6,7-Dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-ones which control inflammatory cytokines

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to methods for treating diseases or disease states which are mediated or otherwise affected by the extracellular release of cytokines, said method comprising the step of administering to a human or higher mammal in need of treatment, one or more of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones of the present invention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation in-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10/661,730, filed Sep. 12, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,593, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.10/246,214, filed Sep. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,668 issued May 4, 2004, which claims priority under Title 35, United States Code 119(e) from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/323,625, filed Sep. 20, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones which inhibit the extracellular release of inflammatory cytokines, said cytokines responsible for one or more human or higher mammalian disease states. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising said 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones and method for preventing, abating, or otherwise controlling enzymes which are understood to be the active components responsible for the herein described disease states.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) are among the important biological substances known collectively as “cytokines.” These molecules are understood to mediate the inflammatory response associated with the immunological recognition of infectious agents.

These pro-inflammatory cytokines are suggested as an important mediators in many disease states or syndromes, inter alia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), septic shock, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, acute respiratory disease, cachexia, and therefore responsible for the progression and manifestation of human disease states.

There is therefore a long felt need for compounds and pharmaceutical compositions which comprise compounds, which can block, abate, control, mitigate, or prevent the release of cytokines from cells which produce them

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the aforementioned needs in that it has been surprisingly found that certain bicyclic pyrazolones and derivatives thereof are effective for inhibiting release of inflammatory cytokines, inter alia, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from cells and thereby preventing, abating, or otherwise controlling enzymes which are proposed to be the active components responsible for the herein described disease states.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for controlling the extracellular release of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) cytokines in human and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds, including all enantiomeric and diasteriomeric forms and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, having the formula:

-   -   wherein R is:     -   a) —O[CH₂]_(k)R³; or     -   b) —NR^(4a)R^(4b);     -   R³is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, substituted or         unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted or unsubstituted         heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or alkylenearyl,         substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl or alkyleneheteroaryl;         the index k is from 0 to 5;     -   R^(4a) and R^(4b) are each independently:     -   a) hydrogen; or     -   b) —[C(R^(5a)R^(5b))]_(m)R⁶;     -   each R^(5a) and R^(5b) are independently hydrogen, —OR⁷,         —N(R⁷)₂, —CO₂R⁷, —CON(R⁷)₂; C₁-C₄ linear, branched, or cyclic         alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R⁶ is hydrogen, —OR⁷, —N(R⁷)₂,         —CO₂R⁷, —CON(R⁷)₂; substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl,         substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic, substituted or         unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;     -   R⁷is hydrogen, a water-soluble cation, C₁-C₄ alkyl, or         substituted or unsubstituted aryl;     -   the index m is from 0 to 5;     -   R¹ is:     -   a) substituted or unsubstituted aryl; or     -   b) substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;     -   each R² unit is independently selected from the group consisting         of:     -   a) hydrogen;     -   b) —(CH₂)_(j)O(CH₂)_(n)R⁸;     -   c) —(CH₂)_(j)NR^(9a)R^(9b);     -   d) —(CH₂)_(j)CO₂R¹⁰;     -   e) —(CH₂)_(j)OCO₂R¹⁰;     -   f) —(CH₂)_(j)CON(R¹⁰)₂;     -   g) —(CH₂)_(j)OCON(R¹⁰)₂;     -   h) two R² units can be taken together to form a carbonyl unit;     -   i) and mixtures thereof;     -   R⁸, R^(9a), R^(9b), and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen,         C₁-C₄ alkyl, and mixtures thereof;     -   R^(9a) and R^(9b) can be taken together to form a carbocyclic or         heterocyclic ring comprising from 3 to 7 atoms; two R¹⁰ units         can be take together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring         comprising from 3 to 7 atoms; j is an index from 0 to 5, n is an         index from 0 to 5;     -   Z is O, S, NR¹¹, or NOR¹¹; R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄ alkyl.

The second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for controlling the extracellular release of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), in human and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds of the present invention.

The third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for controlling a disease or disease state in humans or higher mammals, said disease or disease state chosen from congestive heart failure; hypertension; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and septic shock syndrome; tuberculosis, adult respiratory distress, and asthma; atherosclerosis; muscle degeneration and periodontal disease; cachexia, Reiter's syndrome, gout, acute synovitis, anorexia, bulimia nervosa; fever, malaise, myalgia and headaches, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds of the present invention.

The fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for preventing elevated plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines in humans and higher mammals wherein said cytokines are chosen from TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, thereby controlling or treating congestive heart failure in humans and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds of the present invention.

The fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for treating Crohn's disease or alleviating the symptoms thereof in humans by controlling the extracellular release of cytokines, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds of the present invention.

However, the present invention also includes methods for treating any disease or disease state which is mediated or otherwise affected by the extracellular release of cytokines.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius (° C.) unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds which are capable of mediating, controlling or otherwise inhibiting the extracellular release of certain cytokines, especially inflammatory cytokines, said cytokines playing a role in the stimulation, cause or manifestation of a wide variety of diseases, disease states, or syndromes.

For the purposes of the present invention the term “hydrocarbyl” is defined herein as any organic unit or moiety which is comprised of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms. Included within the term hydrocarbyl are the heterocycles which are described herein below. Examples of various unsubstituted non-heterocyclic hydrocarbyl units include pentyl, 3-ethyloctanyl, 1,3-dimethylphenyl, cyclohexyl, cis-3-hexyl, 7,7-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]-heptan-1-yl, and naphth-2-yl.

Included within the definition of “hydrocarbyl” are the aromatic (aryl) and non-aromatic carbocyclic rings, non-limiting examples of which include cyclopropyl, cyclobutanyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexane, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptanyl, bicyclo-[0.1.1]-butanyl, bicyclo-[0.1.2]-pentanyl, bicyclo-[0.1.3]-hexanyl (thujanyl), bicyclo-[0.2.2]-hexanyl, bicyclo-[0.1.4]-heptanyl(caranyl), bicyclo-[2.2.1]-heptanyl(norboranyl), bicyclo-[0.2.4]-octanyl(caryophyllenyl), spiropentanyl, diclyclopentanespiranyl, decalinyl, phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, indenyl, 2H-indenyl, azulenyl, phenanthryl, anthryl, fluorenyl, acenaphthylenyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenyl, and the like.

The term “heterocycle” includes both aromatic (heteroaryl) and non-aromatic heterocyclic rings non-limiting examples of which include: pyrrolyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, 3H-pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, 2H-imidazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazoyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, 2H-pyran-2-one-yl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, s-triazinyl, 4H-1,2-oxazinyl, 2H-1,3-oxazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, morpholinyl, azepinyl, oxepinyl, 4H-1,2-diazepinyl, indenyl 2H-indenyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, indolyl, 3H-indolyl, 1 H-indolyl, benzoxazolyl, 2H-1-benzopyranyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinazolinyl, 2H-1,4-benzoxazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, quinoxalinyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, benzimidazolyl, and the like each of which can be substituted or unsubstituted.

An example of a unit defined by the term “alkylenearyl” is a benzyl unit having the formula:

whereas an example of a unit defined by the term “alkyleneheteroaryl” is a 2-picolyl unit having the formula:

The term “substituted” is used throughout the specification. The term “substituted” is defined herein as “encompassing moieties or units which can replace a hydrogen atom, two hydrogen atoms, or three hydrogen atoms of a hydrocarbyl moiety. Also substituted can include replacement of hydrogen atoms on two adjacent carbons to form a new moiety or unit.” For example, a substituted unit that requires a single hydrogen atom replacement includes halogen, hydroxyl, and the like. A two hydrogen atom replacement includes carbonyl, oximino, and the like. A two hydrogen atom replacement from adjacent carbon atoms includes epoxy, and the like. Three hydrogen replacement includes cyano, and the like. An epoxide unit is an example of a substituted unit which requires replacement of a hydrogen atom on adjacent carbons. The term substituted is used throughout the present specification to indicate that a hydrocarbyl moiety, inter alia, aromatic ring, alkyl chain, can have one or more of the hydrogen atoms replaced by a substituent. When a moiety is described as “substituted” any number of the hydrogen atoms may be replaced. For example, 4-hydroxyphenyl is a “substituted aromatic carbocyclic ring”, (N,N-dimethyl-5-amino)octanyl is a “substituted C₈ alkyl unit, 3-guanidinopropyl is a “substituted C₃ alkyl unit,” and 2-carboxypyridinyl is a “substituted heteroaryl unit.” The following are non-limiting examples of units which can serve as a replacement for hydrogen atoms when a hydrocarbyl unit is described as “substituted.”

-   i) —[C(R¹²)₂]_(p)(CH═CH)_(q)R¹²; wherein p is from 0 to 12; q is     from 0 to 12; -   ii) —C(Z)R¹²; -   iii) —C(Z)₂R¹²; -   iv) —C(Z)CH═CH₂; -   v) —C(Z)N(R¹²)₂; -   vi) —C(Z)NR¹²N(R¹²)₂; -   vii) —CN; -   viii) —CNO; -   ix) —CF₃, —CCl₃, —CBr₃; -   Z) —N(R¹²)₂; -   xi) —NR¹²CN; -   xii) —NR¹²C(Z)R¹²; -   xiii) —NR¹²C(Z)N(R ¹²)₂; -   xiv) —NHN(R¹²)₂; -   xv) —NHOR¹²; -   xvi) —NCS; -   xvii) —NO₂; -   xviii) —OR¹²; -   xix) —OCN; -   xx) —OCF₃, —OCCl₃, —OCBr₃; -   xxi) —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, and mixtures thereof; -   xxii) —SCN; -   xxiii) —SO₃M; -   xxiv) —OSO₃M; -   xxv) —SO₂N(R¹²)₂; -   xxvi) —SO₂R¹²; -   xxvii) —P(O)H₂; -   xxviii) —PO₂; -   xxix) —P(O)(OH)₂; -   xxx) and mixtures thereof;     wherein R¹² is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ linear,     branched, or cyclic alkyl, C₆-C₂₀ aryl, C₇-C₂₀ alkylenearyl, and     mixtures thereof; M is hydrogen, or a salt forming cation; Z is ═O,     ═S, ═NR¹¹, and mixtures thereof. Suitable salt forming cations     include, sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium,     and the like.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to compounds having the formula:

which are 2-R¹-substituted-3-(2-R-substituted-pyrimidin-4-yl )-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones.

The second aspect of the present invention relates to compounds having the formula:

which are 2-R¹substituted-3-(2-R-substituted-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-thiones.

The third aspect of the present invention relates to compounds having the formula:

which are 2-R¹substituted-3-(2-R-substituted-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ylideneamines and derivatives thereof.

R is a substituent at the 2-position of the pyrimidin-4-yl portion of the general scaffold, said R unit is:

-   a) an ether having the formula —O[CH₂]_(k)R³; or -   b) a primary or secondary amino unit having the formula     —NR^(4a)R^(4b);     -   wherein R³ is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl,         substituted or unsubstituted cyclic hydrocarbyl, substituted or         unsubstituted heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or         alkylenearyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl or         alkyleneheteroaryl; the index k is from 0 to 5.

The following are the various aspects of R units according to the present invention wherein R is an ether having the formula —O[CH₂]_(k)R³. However, the formulator is not limited to the herein exemplified iterations and examples.

-   A) R units encompassing ethers having the formula —OR³ (the index k     equal to 0) and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted aryl.     -   i) One iteration of this aspect of R comprises ethers having the         formula —OR³ and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted aryl. This         iteration includes the following non-limiting example of R:         phenoxy, 2-fluorophenoxy, 3-fluorophenoxy, 4-fluorophenoxy,         2,4-difluorophenoxy, 3-trifluoromethylphenoxy,         4-trifluoromethylphenoxy, 2,4-trifluoromethyl phenoxy, and the         like.     -   ii) Another iteration of this aspect of R comprises ethers         having the formula —OR³ and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted         aryl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: 2-methylphenoxy, 3-methylphenoxy, 4-methylphenoxy,         2,4-dimethylphenoxy, 2-cyanophenoxy, 3-cyanophenoxy,         4-cyanophenoxy, 4-ethylphenoxy, and the like.     -   iii) A further iteration of this aspect of R comprises ethers         having the formula —OR³ and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted         aryl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: (2-methyoxy)phenoxy, (3-methoxy)phenoxy,         (4-methoxy)phenoxy, 3-[(N-acetyl)amino]phenoxy,         3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl, and the like. -   B) R units encompassing ethers having the formula —OR³ (the index k     equal to 0) and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl.     -   i) A first iteration of this aspect of R comprises ethers having         the formula —OR³ and R³ is unsubstituted heteroaryl. This         iteration includes the following non-limiting examples:         pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl,         pyridin-4-yl, and the like.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect of R comprises ethers         having the formula —OR³ and R³ is substituted heteroaryl. This         iteration includes the following non-limiting examples:         2-aminopyrimidin-4-yl, and the like. -   C) R units encompassing ethers having the formula —OCH₂R³ (the index     k equal to 1) and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted aryl.     -   i) A first iteration of this aspect of R comprises ethers having         the formula —OCH₂R³ and R³ is substituted or unsubstituted         heteroaryl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, 2-aminopyrimidin-4-yl,         4-aminopyrimidin-6-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl,         and the like.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect of R wherein R is an ether         having the formula —OCH₂R³ and R³ is substituted or         unsubstituted alkyleneheteroaryl-aryl. This iteration includes         the following non-limiting examples: pyridin-3-ylethyl,         (2-methyl-2-pyridin-3-yl)ethyl, and the like. -   D) R units encompassing ethers having the formula —OR³ (the index k     equal to 1) and R³ is R³ is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄     alkyl.     -   i) A first iteration of this aspect of R is an ether having the         formula —OR³ and R³ is unsubstituted C₁-C₄ linear, branched, or         cyclic alkyl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, (S)-1-methypropyl, and the         like.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect of R is an ether having         the formula —OR³ and R³ is a substituted C₁-C₄ linear, branched,         or cyclic alkyl. This iteration includes the following         non-limiting examples: 2-methoxyethyl,         (S)-1-methy-3-methyoxypropyl, and the like.

The following are the various aspects of R units according to the present invention wherein R is an amine having the formula —NR^(4a)R^(4b), R^(4a) and R^(4b) are each independently:

-   -   a) hydrogen; or     -   b) —[C(R^(5a)R^(5b))]_(m)R⁶;         each R^(5a) and R^(5b) are independently hydrogen, or C₁-C₄         linear, branched, —OR⁷, —N(R⁷)₂, —CO₂R⁷, —CON(R⁷)₂; cyclic         alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R⁶ is hydrogen, substituted or         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted         heterocyclic, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted         or unsubstituted heteroaryl; —OR⁷, —N(R⁷)₂, —CO₂R⁷, —CON(R⁷)₂,         R⁷ is hydrogen, a water-soluable cation, C₁-C₄ alkyl, or         substituted or unsubstituted aryl; the index m is from 0 to 5.         However, the formulator is not limited to the herein exemplified         iterations and examples.

-   A) R units encompassing chiral amino groups wherein R^(4a) is     hydrogen, R^(5a) is hydrogen and R^(5b) is methyl, said units having     the formula:

-   -   and the indicated stereochemistry.     -   i) A first iteration of this aspect of R is an amine comprising         an R⁶ which is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl. This         iteration includes the following non-limiting examples:         (S)-1-methyl-1-phenylmethylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(4-fluorophenyl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)methyl-amino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(2-aminophenyl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(4-aminophenyl)methylamino, and the like.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect of R is an amine         comprising an R⁶ which is substituted or unsubstituted         heteroaryl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: (S)-1-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(pyridin-3-yl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(pyridin-4-yl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(furan-2-yl)methylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-1-(3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)methylamino, and the         like.     -   iii) A third iteration of this aspect of R is an amine         comprising an R⁶ which is C₁-C₄ substituted or unsubstituted         alkyl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: (S)-1-methylpropylamino,         (S)-1-methyl-2-(methoxy)ethylamino.

-   B) R units encompassing chiral amino groups wherein R^(4a) is     hydrogen, R^(5a) and R^(5b) are each C₁-C₄ alkyl, said units having     the formula:

-   -   and the indicated stereochemistry when R^(5a), R^(5b) and R⁶ are         not the same.     -   i) A first iteration of this aspect of R is an amine which does         not have a chiral center, non-limiting examples of which         includes 1,1-dimethylethylamine, 1,1-dimethylbenzylamine and the         like.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect of R is an amine         comprising an R⁶ which is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         alkyl. This iteration includes the following non-limiting         examples: (S)-1-methyl-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropylamine,         (S)-1-methyl-2-hydroxy-2-methylbutylamine, and the like.

-   C) R units encompassing alkylenearyl amines wherein R^(4a) is     hydrogen, both R^(5a) and R^(5b) of R^(4b) are hydrogen, R⁶ is     substituted or unsubstituted aryl, said unit having the formula:

-   -   wherein R¹¹ is hydrogen or a “substituted unit” as defined         herein above.     -   i) A first iteration of this aspect comprises the following         non-limiting examples of R units: benzylamino,         (2-aminophenyl)methylamino; (4-fluorophenyl)methylamino,         (4-methoxyphenyl)methylamino;         (4-propanesulfonylphenyl)methylamino; and the like.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect comprises the following         non-limiting examples of R units: (2-methylphenyl)methylamino;         (3-methylphenyl)-methylamino; (4-methylphenyl)methylamino; and         the like.

-   D) R units encompassing amines wherein R^(4a) is hydrogen, R^(4b)     comprises R^(5a) equal to hydrogen and R^(5b) equal to —CO₂R⁷ or     —CON(R⁷)₂; said unit having the formula:

-   -   i) A first iteration of this aspect of R is an amine comprising         an R⁶ which is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl. This         iteration includes the following non-limiting examples:

-   -    wherein R¹¹ is hydrogen or a “substitute” as defined herein         above.     -   ii) A second iteration of this aspect of R is an amine         comprising an R⁶ which is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl.         This iteration includes the following non-limiting examples:

-   -   R¹ units are selected from:     -   a) substituted or unsubstituted aryl; or     -   b) substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl.

The first aspect of R¹ units encompasses halogen substituted phenyl units, non-limiting examples of which include 4-fluorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, and the like.

Each R² unit is independently selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   a) hydrogen;     -   b) —(CH₂)_(j)O(CH₂)_(n)R⁸;     -   c) —(CH₂)_(j)NR^(9a)R^(9b);     -   d) —(CH₂)_(j)CO₂R¹⁰;     -   e) —(CH₂)_(j)OCO₂R¹⁰     -   f) —(CH₂)_(j)CON(R¹⁰)₂;     -   g) —(CH₂)_(j)OCON(R¹⁰)₂;     -   h) two R² units can be taken together to form a carbonyl unit;     -   i) and mixtures thereof;         R⁸, R^(9a), R^(9b), and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen,         C₁-C₄ alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R^(9a) and R^(9b) can be         taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring         comprising from 3 to 7 atoms; two R¹⁰ units can be take together         to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring comprising from 3 to         7 atoms; j is an index from 0 to 5, n is an index from 0 to 5.

The first aspect of the present invention relating to R² encompasses scaffolds having the formula:

wherein each R² unit is hydrogen.

A second aspect relates to scaffolds having the formula:

wherein R⁸ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄ alkyl.

A third aspect relates to scaffolds having the formula:

wherein R^(9a) and R^(9b) are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or R^(9a) and R^(9b) can be taken together to form a piperidine or morpholine ring.

A fourth aspect relates to scaffolds having the formula:

wherein one R² is —CO₂R¹⁰ and the other R² units are hydrogen; one R¹⁰ is hydrogen or methyl.

Z is O, S, NR¹¹, or NOR¹¹; R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄ alkyl. The first aspect of the present invention as it relates to Z units, comprises oxygen atoms which provide 2-R¹substituted-3-(2-R-substituted-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones, the second aspect relates to Z units comprising sulfur atoms which provide 2-R¹substituted-3-(2-R-substituted-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-thiones, and the third aspect of the present invention as it relates to Z units, comprises NR¹¹ units thereby providing 2-R¹substituted-3-(2-R-substituted-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ylideneamines and derivatives thereof.

The first category of inflammatory cytokine release inhibiting compounds according to the present invention have the general scaffold having the formula:

wherein R units are ethers having the formula —OR³, wherein R¹ and R³ are described herein below in Table I

TABLE I No. R¹ R 1 4-fluorophenyl phenoxy 2 4-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy 3 4-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy 4 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy 5 4-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy 6 4-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy 7 4-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy 8 4-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy 9 4-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy 10 4-fluorophenyl N-methylpiperadin-4-yl 11 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy 12 4-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy 13 4-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy 14 4-fluorophenyl pyran-4-yloxy 15 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy 16 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 17 2,4-difluorophenyl phenoxy 18 2,4-difluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy 19 2,4-difluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy 20 2,4-difluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy 21 2,4-difluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy 22 2,4-difluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy 23 2,4-difluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy 24 2,4-difluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy 25 2,4-difluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy 26 2,4-difluorophenyl N-methylpiperadin-4-yl 27 2,4-difluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy 28 2,4-difluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy 29 2,4-difluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy 30 2,4-difluorophenyl pyran-4-yloxy 31 2,4-difluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy 32 2,4-difluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 33 3-trifluoromethylphenyl phenoxy 34 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-fluorophenoxy 35 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-fluorophenoxy 36 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-fluorophenoxy 37 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy 38 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-cyanophenoxy 39 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-cyanophenoxy 40 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy 41 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy 42 3-trifluoromethylphenyl N-methylpiperadin-4-yl 43 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-methylphenoxy 44 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy 45 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy 46 3-trifluoromethylphenyl pyran-4-yloxy 47 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy 48 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl

The analogs 1-48 and others like them which comprise this category can be suitably prepared by the procedure outlined herein below. In the following example, R¹ is 4-fluorophenyl, however, the formulator may suitably substitute any starting material compatible with this procedure, inter alia, methyl phenylacetate, methyl 4-chlorophenyl-acetate, and methyl 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacatate.

EXAMPLE 1 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-3-oxo-propionic acid methyl ester (3)

The following is a procedure for the preparation of 2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbaldehyde, 1, adapted from the procedure of H. Bredereck et al., Chem. Ber., 97, pp 3407-3417 (1964) included herein by reference.

To a 12 L 3-neck flask under inert atmosphere is charged N,N-dimethyl-formamide dimethyl acetyl (801 g) and pyruvic aldehyde dimethyl acetal (779 g). The mixture is heated to reflux for 18 hours during which time the temperature decreases from about 109° C. to about 80° C. The solution is cooled and methanol (4 L) is added to dissolve the crude residue. The solution is then cooled to 20° C. and thiourea (892 g, 11.7 mol) is added. After allowing the mixture to stir about 15 minutes, sodium methoxide (741 g, 13.7 mol) is added in 4 equal portions over 1 hour while maintaining the solution temperature in the range of 18-28° C. The mixture is stirred for 5 hours at room temperature, cooled to 20° C., then methyl iodide (2 kg) is added over 1.25 hours while maintaining the reaction temperature in the range of 17-29° C. Stirring is continued for 18 hours at room temperature. The methanol and unreacted methyl iodide is removed by heating the solution at 35° C. @40 torr to produce about 4.46 kg of a dark residue which is partitioned between 14 L of water and 5 L of ethyl acetate. The water fraction is extracted a second time with ethyl acetate, the organic layers combined and concentrated in vacuo too afford 685 g of an oil which is purified over silica to 522 g of 4-dimethoxymethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine.

The dimethyl acetal obtained above is then hydrolyzed to the free aldehyde by heating to 60° C. for 3 hours in 1 M HCl. Workup for neutral using ethyl acetate to extract the product affords 347 g crude product which is purified over silica to afford 401 g of 2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbaldehyde, 1.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester (2): To a cold (−78° C.) solution of lithium diisopropylamide (21.4 mL of 2M solution in THF, 42.8 mmol) in THF (70 mL) is added dropwise a solution of methyl 4-fluorophenyl-acetate (6.0 g, 35.7 mmol) in THF (30 mL). The solution is stirred for 1 hour at −78° C. after which a solution of 2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbaldehyde, 1, (6.0 g, 39.3 mmol) in THF (30 mL) is added dropwise to the reaction mixture. Stirring is continued for 45 minutes at −78° C. then the reaction is quenched by pouring the reaction solution into aqueous saturated NH₄Cl. The aqueous phase is extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phases combined, dried (MgSO₄), filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue is purified over silica (33% EtOAc/hexanes) to afford 8.7 g (76%) of the desired product as a mixture (1:1) of diastereomers.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-3-oxo-propionic acid methyl ester (3): To a suspension of CrO₃ in CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL) is added pyridine. The mixture is stirred vigorously for 1 hour at room temp. A solution of the crude 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid methyl ester, 2, prepared above in CH₂Cl₂ (50 mL) is added dropwise to the chromium suspension. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 16 hours, diluted with ether (1 L) and filtered through a pad of Celite. The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue is purified over silica (25% EtOAc/hexanes) to afford 3.7 g (43% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid.

The following example relates to the formation of 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one ring systems utilizing pyrazolidine, however the formulator may utilize substituted cyclic hydrazine reagents to achieve other scaffolds having R² ring units which are not hydrogen, inter alia, 3-methylpyrazolidine.

EXAMPLE 2 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (5)

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (4): To a solution of pyrazolidine (7.8 g, 54.16 mmol) in pyridine (100 mL) is added 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-3-oxo-propionic acid methyl ester, 3, (11.5 g, 36.1 mmol). The reaction mixture is heated to 90° C. for 16 hours. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the resulting residue purified over silica (100% EtOAc, followed by 10% MeOH/EtOAc) to afford 3.9 g (37% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (5): To a solution of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 4, (1.3 g, 3.8 mmol) in THF:methanol (56 mL of a 1:1 mixture) is added dropwise a solution of Oxone® (potassium peroxymonosulfate) (9.34 g, 15.2 mmol) in water (42 mL). The reaction is stirred 1 hour at room temperature, diluted with aqueous NaHCO₃ and extract three times with ethyl acetate. The organic layers are combined, dried, and concentrated in vacuo too afford the crude desired product which is used without further purification.

The following is a procedure wherein Intermediate Type II compounds can be utilized for preparation of the inflammatory cytokine release inhibitors of Category I.

EXAMPLE 3 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (6)

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (6): To a solution of phenol (0.66 g, 7.08 mmol) in THF (5 mL) is added NaH (0.24 g, 5.91 mmol) followed by a solution of the crude 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 5, prepared herein above (0.25 g, 0.67 mmol) in THF (2 mL). The reaction mixture is stirred for 1.5 hours at room temperature, diluted with aqueous NaHCO₃ and extracted with twice with ethyl acetate. The organic layers are combined, dried over MgSO₄, and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude product which is purified over silica (100% EtOAc, followed by 10% MeOH/EtOAc) to provide 0.35 g (38% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.47 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.49 (dd, J=7.8, 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (ddd, J=5.4, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.35-7.22 (m, 3H), 7.10 (dd, J=8.4, 8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.90 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.86 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.59 (dt, J=7.2, 7.2 Hz, 2H); HRMS calcd for C₂₂H₁₈FN₄O₂ (M+H)⁺ 389.1414; found 389.1407. This compound corresponds to analog 1 from Table I.

N-(3-{4-[2-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-3-oxo-6,7-dihydro-3H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1yl]-pyrimidin-2-yloxy}-phenyl)-acetamide; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, d₆-DMSO) δ 10.11 (s, 1H), 8.66 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (m, 1H), 7.41-7.34 (m, 4H), 7.17 (t, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 7.02 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 6.92-6.80 (m, 1H), 3.84 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 3.81 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 2.46 (m, 2H), 2.06 (s, 3H); HRMS calcd for C₂₄H₂₀FN₅O₃ (M+H)⁺ 446.1628; found 446.1606.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(2,4-dimethylphenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.44 (dd, J=5.4, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.43-7.38 (m, 2H), 7.14-7.00 (m, 5H), 6.88 (dd, J=5.1, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 4.02 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.86 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.59 (dt, J=7.2, 7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.38 (s, 3H), 2.19 (s, 3H); HRMS calcd for C₂₄H₂₁FN₄O₂ (M+H)⁺ 417.1727; found 417.1727.

2-(2,4-Difluorophenyl)-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.52 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.60-7.46 (m, 3H), 7.33 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.23 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.01 (t, J=8.1 Hz, 1H0, 6.91-6.83 (m, 2H), 4.09 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 3.92 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 2.59 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H): MS (M+H)⁺ 407.2.

2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(4-fluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.51 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (dd, J=8.7, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.21-7.10 (m, 5H), 6.91 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.42-4.35 (m, 2H), 4.10-4.04 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.71 (dt, J=7.2, 7.2 Hz, 2H);MS (M+H)⁺ 406.9.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(2,6-difluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.52 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (dd, J=8.7, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.15-7.07 (m, 5H), 6.98 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.31 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 4.09 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 2.70 (dt, J=8.2, 8.2 Hz, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 425.2.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(2-fluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.51 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.41-7.23 (m, 6H), 7.11 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.94 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.27 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 4.00 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 2.66 (dt, J=8.2, 8.2 Hz, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 407.2.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(3-fluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.49 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.49-7.38 (m, 3H), 7.11 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 7.04-6.98 (m, 3H), 6.94 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.13 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 3.97 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 2.66 (dt, J=6.9, 6.9 Hz, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 406.9.

A second aspect of the Category I inflammatory cytokine release inhibiting compounds according to the present invention have the general scaffold having the formula:

wherein R units are amines having the formula —NR^(4a)[CHR^(5b)]R⁶, and R¹, R^(4a), R^(5b), and R⁶ are described herein below in Table II. The stereochemistry of R^(5b) is the configuration shown when R^(5b) or R⁶ is not hydrogen.

TABLE II No. R¹ R^(4a) R^(5b) R⁶ 49 4-fluorophenyl H H phenyl 50 4-fluorophenyl H H 4-fluorophenyl 51 4-fluorophenyl H H 2-aminophenyl 52 4-fluorophenyl H H 2-methylphenyl 53 4-fluorophenyl H H 4-methylphenyl 54 4-fluorophenyl H H 4-methoxyphenyl 55 4-fluorophenyl H H 4- (propanesulfonyl)phenyl 56 4-fluorophenyl H H 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 57 4-fluorophenyl H H pyridin-2-yl 58 4-fluorophenyl H H pyridin-3-yl 59 4-fluorophenyl H methyl phenyl 60 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 4-fluorophenyl 61 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 2-aminophenyl 62 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 2-methylphenyl 63 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 4-methylphenyl 64 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 4-methoxyphenyl 65 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 4- (propanesulfonyl)phenyl 66 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 67 4-fluorophenyl H methyl pyridin-2-yl 68 4-fluorophenyl H methyl pyridin-3-yl 69 4-fluorophenyl H H H 70 4-fluorophenyl H H methyl 71 4-fluorophenyl H H ethyl 72 4-fluorophenyl H H vinyl 73 4-fluorophenyl H H cyclopropyl 74 4-fluorophenyl H H cyclohexyl 75 4-fluorophenyl H H methoxymethyl 76 4-fluorophenyl H H methoxyethyl 77 4-fluorophenyl H H 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl 78 4-fluorophenyl H H —CO₂H 79 4-fluorophenyl H methyl H 80 4-fluorophenyl H methyl methyl 81 4-fluorophenyl H methyl ethyl 82 4-fluorophenyl H methyl vinyl 83 4-fluorophenyl H methyl cyclopropyl 84 4-fluorophenyl H methyl cyclohexyl 85 4-fluorophenyl H methyl methoxymethyl 86 4-fluorophenyl H methyl methoxyethyl 87 4-fluorophenyl H methyl 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl 88 4-fluorophenyl H methyl —CO₂H 89 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl phenyl 90 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 4-fluorophenyl 91 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 2-aminophenyl 92 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 2-methylphenyl 93 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 4-methylphenyl 94 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 4-methoxyphenyl 95 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 4- (propanesulfonyl)phenyl 96 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 97 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl pyridin-2-yl 98 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl pyridin-3-yl 99 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl H 100 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl methyl 101 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl ethyl 102 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl vinyl 103 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl cyclopropyl 104 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl cyclohexyl 105 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl methoxymethyl 106 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl methoxyethyl 107 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl 108 3-trifluoromethylphenyl H methyl —CO₂H

Utilizing intermediates such as compound 5, as a convenient starting point the analogs 49-108 and others encompassed within the description of this category can be suitably prepared by the procedure outlined herein below. In the following example, R¹ is 4-fluorophenyl, however, the formulator may suitably substitute any starting material compatible with this procedure, inter alia, methyl phenylacetate, methyl 4-chlorophenyl-acetate, and methyl 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetate.

EXAMPLE 4 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(S)-(1-phenylethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (7)

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(S)-(1-phenylethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (7): A solution of the crude 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 5, prepared herein above (0.86 g, 2.3 mmol) and (S)-(−)-α-methyl-benzyl amine (10.5 mL, 81.6 mmol) is dissolved in toluene (18 mL). The resulting mixture is heated to 140° C. for 12 hours, cooled to room temperature and the solvent removed in vacuo. The resulting residue is purified over silica (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes) to afford the desired product which to analog 59 from Table II. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.18 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.42-7.34 (m, 7H), 7.04 (ddd, J=9.0, 6.9, 2.1 Hz, 2H), 6.39 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.68 (bd s, 1H), 5.10 (m, 1H), 3.97 (dt, J=7.5, 7.5, 7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.45 (bd s, 2H), 1.67 (m, 2H), 1.60 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 3H); HRMS calcd for C₂₄H₂₂FN₅O (M+H)⁺ 416.1887; found 416.1897.

The following compounds from the second aspect of Category I can be prepared by the procedure described herein above.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(N′-methyl-N′-phenylhydrazino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one: ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.29 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=8.4, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.29-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.06 (dd, J=8.4, 8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.91 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 6.85 (t, 7.8 Hz, 1H), 6.57 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 4H), 3.39 (s, 3H), 2/48-2.33 (m, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 417.2.

(R)-{4-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-6,7-dihydro-3H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-yl]-pyrimidin-2-ylamino}-phenylacetic acid methyl ester; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.26 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 7.54-7.24 (m, 7H), 7.04 (t, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.47 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 5.65-5.58 (m, 5H), 4.05-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.79 (s, 3H), 3.78-3.68 (m, 2H), 1.67 (m, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 460.0.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(2-benzylaminopyrimidin-4-yl )-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.21 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 1H), 7.45-7.29 (m, 9H), 7.06 (dd, J=9.0, 8.4 Hz, 2H), 6.47 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 4.70 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 4.04 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.80-3.65 (m, 2H), 2.65-2.52 (m, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 402.1.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(1-(S)-methylethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.17 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 7.46-7.40 (m, 2H), 7.05 (dt, J=8.7, 2.4 Hz, 2H), 6.38 (dd, J=4.8, 3.0 Hz, 1H), 5.11 (bd s, 1H), 4.13-3.96 (m, 5H), 2.73 (dt, J=6.9, 6.9 Hz, 2H), 1.66-1.55 (m, 2H), 1.24 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 3H), 0.99 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H); HRMS calcd for C₂₀H₂₂FN₅O (M+H)⁺ 368.1886; found 386.1880.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(allylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.20 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (dd, J=9.0, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.05 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.43 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 6.00 (dddd, J=7.2, 7.2, 7.2, 5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.45 (bd s, 1H), 5.28 (dd, J=17.1, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 5.20 (dd, J=10.2, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 4.13-4.04 (m, 6H), 2.71 (dt, J=7.2, 7.2 Hz, 2H); HRMS calcd for C₁₉H₁₈FN₅O (M+H)⁺ 352.1573; found 352.1582.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[1-(S)-(4-methylphenyl)ethylamino]pyrimidin-4-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.15 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=8.7, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 7.28-7.27 (m, 2H), 7.17 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (t, J=9.0 Hz, 2H), 6.41 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 5.20 (m, 1H), 4.02-3.96 (m, 4H), 2.52-2.45 (m, 2H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 1.60 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 3H); HRMS calcd for C₂₅H₂₄FN₅O (M+H)⁺ 430.2043; found 430.2057.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(1-(S)-cyclohexyl-ethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.16 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 7.44 (dd, J=9.0, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 7.05 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.37 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.12 (bd s, 1H), 4.14-4.02 (m, 4H), 3.99-3.92 (m, 1H), 2.73 (dt, J=6.9, 6.9 Hz, 2H), 1.88-1.63 (m, 4H), 1.54-1.40 (m, 1H), 1.28-1.03 (m, 6H), 1.20 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 3H); HRMS calcd for C₂₄H₂₈FN₅O (M+H)⁺ 421.2279; found 421.2264.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(1-(R)-phenylethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.11 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 7.43-7.23 (m, 7H), 7.05 (t, J=8.4Hz, 2H), 6.43 (d, J=5.4Hz, 1H), 5.13 (m, 1H), 4.16-3.94 (m, 2H), 2.58-2.38 (m, 2H), 1.63 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 3H); MS (M+H)⁺ 416.0.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(tert-butylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.11 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (dd, J=6.9, 3.3 Hz, 2H), 7.08 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 6.45 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 4.12-4.02 (m, 4H), 2.77 (dt, J=7.2, 7.2, Hz, 2H), 1.52 (s, 9H); MS (M+H)⁺ 368.1.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(2-hydroxy-1,2-dimethylpropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.99 (m, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=9.0, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 7.10 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.55 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 4.24-4.10 (m, 5H), 2.83 (dt, J=8.4, 8.4 Hz, 2H), 1.51-1.36 (m, 9H); MS (M+H)⁺ 398.1.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[(2-cyclopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.17 (m, 1H), 7.42 (dd, J=8.7, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.12 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.52 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 4.27 (m, 2H), 4.15 (t, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 2.88-2.81 (m, 1H), 2.77 (dt, J=8.4, 8.4 Hz, 2H), 0.93-0.87 (m, 2H), 0.71-0.66 (m, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 352.0.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[(2-cyclopropylmethyl)aminopyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ8.17 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (dd, J=8.7, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.07 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.41 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.55 (bd s, 1H), 4.15-4.05 (m, 4H), 3.31 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 2H), 2.78 (dt, J=6.9, 6.9 Hz, 2H), 1.18 (m, 1H), 0.60 (m, 2H), 0.30 (m, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 366.0.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[(2-methoxyethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.18 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (dd, J=8.7, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 7.06 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.42 (d, J=5.4 Hz, 1H), 4.20-4.03 (m, 4H), 3.68-3.41 (m, 4H), 3.42 (s, 3H), 2.74 (dt, J=6.9, 6.9 Hz, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 370.0.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(2-methoxy-1-(S)-methylethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.18 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (dd, J=8.1, 5.4Hz, 2H), 7.04 (t, J=8.7Hz, 2H), 6.39 (d, J=4.8Hz, 1H), 5.49 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 4.26 (m, 1H), 4.13 (t, J=6.9Hz, 2H), 4.06 (t, J=6.9Hz, 2H), 3.46 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 2H), 3.41 (s, 3H), 2.72 (dt, J=6.9, 6.9 Hz, 2H), 1.30 (s, 3H); MS (M+H)⁺ 384.0.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[1-(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)ethylamino]pyrimidin-4-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.10 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.39 (dd, J=7.8, 5.1 Hz, 2H), 7.07 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 6.48 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.12 (m, 1H), 4.18-3.98 (m, 2H), 2.61-2.45 (m, 2H), 1.64 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 3H); MS (M+H)⁺ 433.9.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)amino]pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; ¹H NMR (300 MHz, d₆-DMSO) δ8.69-8.51 (m, 2H), 8.22 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.73-7.68 (m, 1H), 7.42 (dd, J=8.7, 5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.33-7.26 (m, 1H), 7.04 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.48 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.77 (bd s, 1H), 4.69 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (t, J=6.9 Hz, 2H), 3.80 (m, 2H), 2.62 (dt, J=8.7, 8.7 Hz, 2H); MS (M+H)⁺ 403.1.

The second category of inflammatory cytokine release inhibiting compounds according to the present invention have the general scaffold having the formula:

wherein R units are ethers having the formula —OR³ and R^(9a) and R^(9b) are taken together to form a ring as described herein below in Table III.

TABLE III No. R¹ R³ R^(9a)/R^(9b) ring 109 4-fluorophenyl phenoxy morpholinyl 110 4-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy morpholinyl 111 4-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy morpholinyl 112 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy morpholinyl 113 4-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy morpholinyl 114 4-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy morpholinyl 115 4-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy morpholinyl 116 4-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy morpholinyl 117 4-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy morpholinyl 118 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenoxy morpholinyl 119 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy morpholinyl 120 4-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy morpholinyl 121 4-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy morpholinyl 122 4-fluorophenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy morpholinyl 123 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy morpholinyl 124 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl morpholinyl 125 4-fluorophenyl phenoxy piperidin-1-yl 126 4-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 127 4-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 128 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 129 4-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 130 4-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 131 4-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 132 4-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 133 4-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 134 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 135 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 136 4-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 137 4-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy piperidin-1-yl 138 4-fluorophenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 139 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy piperidin-1-yl 140 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl piperidin-1-yl 141 4-fluorophenyl phenoxy piperazin-1-yl 142 4-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 143 4-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 144 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 145 4-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 146 4-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 147 4-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 148 4-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 149 4-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 150 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 151 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 152 4-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 153 4-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy piperazin-1-yl 154 4-fluorophenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 155 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy piperazin-1-yl 156 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl piperazin-1-yl 157 4-fluorophenyl phenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 158 4-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 159 4-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 160 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 161 4-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 162 4-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 163 4-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 164 4-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 165 4-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 166 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 167 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 167 4-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 169 4-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 170 4-fluorophenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 171 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy pyrrolidin-1-yl 172 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl pyrrolidin-1-yl

The following is a scheme for preparing compounds belonging to the first aspect of Category II according to the present invention. The first stage encompasses utilization of Type III intermediates to introduce the R¹ unit (4-fluorophenyl in the present example) into the molecule. Intermediate detones such as compound 11 can be used in the next sequence to introduce the selected amino unit to the 6-position of the pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one ring system.

EXAMPLE 5 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-oxo-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (11)

Preparation of 4-methylenepyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester (8): To a suspension of NaH (3.81 g, 95.4 mmol) in DMF (80 mL) is add dropwise a solution of N-Cbz-N′-Boc-hydrazine (12.1 g, 45.4 mmol) in DMF (20 mL). The reaction mixture is stirred about 20 minutes and 3-chloro-2-chloromethyl-propene (5.8 mL, 50 mmol) is added dropwise and the reaction is allowed to stir at room temperature until the reaction is complete by TLC, approximately 12 hours. The reaction solution is partitioned between ethyl acetate and water, the water layer being extracted several times more with solvent. The combined organic layers are dried, filtered, and concentrated to afford the desired product as a clear oil which is used without further purification.

Preparation of 4-methylene-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester (9): To a solution of crude 4-methylenepyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester, 8, (30 g) in methanol (300 mL) is added thionyl chloride dropwise at 0° C. The reaction is warmed to room temperature and stirred an additional 18 hours. Concentration of the reaction in vacuo affords a yellow oil which crystallizes upon standing to provide 23 g (97% yield) of the desired product as the HCl salt.

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-methylene-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (10): Sodium hydroxide (0.12 g, 3 mmol) is dissolved in a 1:2 water/methylene chloride solution (30 mL) with rapid stirring followed by the addition of 4-methylene-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester, 9, (0.62 g, 2.8 mmol) at room temperature. (4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl chloride (0.39 mL, 4.2 mmol) is added and the reaction is allowed to stir for 18 hours after which time the reaction mixture is diluted with water (10 mL) and the layers allowed to separate. The aqueous layer is extracted with methylene chloride, the organic layers combined, dried, and filtered. Concentration in vacuo affords the crude product which is purified over silica (1:3 ethyl acetate/hexane) to provide 0.54 g (62% yield) of the desired product.

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-oxo-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (11): Ozone gas is bubbled into a solution of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-acetyl]-4-methylene-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 10, (0.28 g, 0.8 mmol) in methylene chloride (15 mL) at −78° C. until the solution retains a blue color. The source of ozone is removed and dimethyl sulfoxide (0.23 mL) is added and the reaction solution allowed to warm to room temperature and stir for 18 hours. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the resulting oil purified over silica (1:3 ethyl acetate/hexane) to afford 0.15 g (53% yield) of the desired product as a clear oil.

Synthetic intermediates of Type III, for example, compound 11, can be used as a template for introducing the desired 6-position amino moiety as outlined in the example below.

EXAMPLE 6 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-(4-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolidin-1-yl)-ethanone (13)

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (12): To a solution of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-oxo-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 11, (0.14 g, 0.4 mmol) and morpholine (0.038 mL, 0.43 mmol) in THF at room temperature is added Na(OAc)₃BH (0.125 g, 0.6 mmol) and HOAc (0.022 mL, 0.4 mmol). The solution is stirred 12 hours then partitioned between diethyl ether and NaHCO₃. The aqueous layer was extracted several times with ether and the organic layers combined, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to a clear oil which was re-dissolved in ether and one equivalent of ethereal HCl is added and a white solid forms. The solid is collected by filtration and 100 mg (60% yield) of the desired product is isolated as the HCl salt.

Preparation of 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-(4-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolidin-1-yl)-ethanone (13): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester HCl salt, 12, (100 mg, 0.2 mmol) is dissolved in methanol and Pd/C (5 mg) is added. The solution is then hydrogenated in a Parr® Hydrogenation Apparatus for 3 days after which time the catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo to afford 55 mg (81% yield) of the desired product as a tan solid.

Once the selected 6-amino unit is in position on the 2-R¹-substitued-pyrazolo[1,2-a}pyrazol-1-one scaffold, segments of the final analogs which comprise the selected R units can be assembled utilizing a convergent synthetic step. This step makes use of Intermediate Type V compounds having the general formula:

thereby introducing the desired —OR³ unit into the scaffold, said Type V intermediates can be prepared according to the procedure outlined in the scheme herein below.

EXAMPLE 7 2-Phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride (18)

Preparation of 2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (14): To a suspension of 2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (15 g, 88 mmol) in methanol (200 mL) is added dropwise thionyl chloride (25 mL). The solution is allowed to warm to room temperature and stir 12 hours. The solution is then concentrated in vacuo and the yellow solid which remains can be taken up in methylene chloride and re-concentrated to afford 19 g (97% yield) of the HCl salt of the desired product as a white solid.

Preparation of 2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (15): An aqueous solution (1 L) of Oxone® (211.7 g, 344 mmol) is added dropwise at 0° C. to a solution of 2-methyl-sulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester, 14, (19 g,86.1 mmol) in 1:1 methanol/THF (1 L). The reaction solution is allowed to warm to room temperature and stir for 1.5 hours. The resulting suspension is partitioned between methylene chloride and water. The aqueous phase is made alkaline with the addition of NaOH and re extracted with solvent. The combined organic layers are dried, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to afford 18.4 g of the desired product as a yellow oil.

Preparation of 2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (16): NaH (3.5 g of a 60% suspension, 87.4 mmol) is added to a solution of phenol (8.23 g, 87.4 mmol) in THF (100 mL) at room temperature. 2-Methanesulfonyl-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester, 15, (6.3 g, 29.1 mmol) is dissolved in THF (60 mL) and added dropwise to the solution of phenol. The reaction is allowed to stir for 12 hours then quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The aqueous phase is extracted with methylene chloride and the combined organic layers are dried, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to afford a crude oil which is purified over silica (ethyl acetate/hexane 2:3) to afford 1.72 g (25% yield) of the desired product as a white solid.

Preparation of 2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (17): To a solution of 2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester, 16, (1.72 g, 74.8 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) is added a 50% NaOH solution (10 mL) at room temperature. After stirring for 1.5 hours the solvent is removed in vacuo and the remaining aqueous phase is extracted with ethyl acetate. The aqueous phase can then be carefully acidified with concentrated HCl and the white solid which forms extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The organic layers are combined, dried and concentrated in vacuo to afford 0.95 g (60% yield) of the desired product as a white solid.

Preparation of 2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride (18): To a solution of 2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid, 17, (0.19 g, 0.89 mmol) in methylene chloride (10 mL) containing a few drops of DMF is added oxalyl chloride (0.1 mL). The solution is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature and concentrated in vacuo to afford the desired product which is used without further purification.

The final sequence for preparing the compounds which comprise the first aspect of Category II analogs according to the present invention can be accomplished by the procedure outlined herein below. This procedure involves a convergent step wherein the first half comprises the selected R¹ unit and the 6-position amino unit, for example, as intermediate 13, while the second half comprises the final R unit already introduced to the pyrimidine ring, for example, as in intermediate 18.

EXAMPLE 8 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-morpholin-4-yl-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (20)

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[4-morpholin-4-yl-2-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)pyrazolidine-1-yl]ethanone (19): 2-Phenoxypyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride, 18, (0.07 g, 0.28 mmol) in methylene chloride (1.5 mL) is added dropwise to a suspension of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-morpholin-4-yl-pyrazolidin-1-yl)ethanone,13, (0.06 g, 0.18 mmol) in a 2:5 water/CH₂Cl₂ solution (7 mL) containing NaOH (0.0112 g, 0.28 mmol) at room temperature. The solution is stirred 18 hours and diluted with additional 2:5 water/CH₂Cl₂. The layers are allowed to separate and the aqueous phase extracted with additional methylene chloride. The organic layers are combined, dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford a tan solid which is purified by preparative HPLC to provide 0.021 g (23% yield) of the desired product as an oily solid.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-morpholin4-yl-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (20): To a solution of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[4-morpholin-4-yl-2-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)pyrazolidine-1-yl]ethanone, 19, (0.2 g, 0.4 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) at 0° C. is added NaH (0.024 g, 0.6 mmol) and the resulting solution is stirred 2 hours. The solvent is removed in vacuo the residue dissolved in methylene chloride and extracted with water, dried, and re-concentrated to afford 37 mg (20% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid.

The following compounds from the first aspect of Category II can be prepared by the procedure described herein above.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-morpholin-4-yl-3-[2-(4-flurorophenoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz) δ1.61 (s, 4H), 2.58 (s, 4H), 3.70-3.99 (m, 4H), 4.23-4.25 (m, 1H), 6.94 (d, 1H, J=5.1 Hz), 7.10 (t, 2H, J=8.7 Hz), 7.26-7.41 (m, 6H), 8.50 (d, 1H, J=5.1 Hz). ESI⁺ MS: m/z (rel intensity) 491.9 (100, M⁺+H). Anal. Calculated for C₂₆H₂₃F₂N₅O₃ 0.5H₂O: C, 62.39; H, 4.83; N, 13.99. Found: C, 62.02; H, 4.38; N, 13.62.

The second aspect of Category II analogs relates to compounds having the formula:

wherein R is an amino unit as indicated in the formula. The analogs of Table IV comprise R units having the formula —NHC(HR^(5b))R⁶ wherein R^(4a) is hydrogen and R¹, R^(5a), R⁶, R^(9a), and R^(9b) are described herein.

TABLE IV No. R¹ R^(5b) R⁶ R^(9a) R^(9b) 173 4-fluoro- H phenyl H H phenyl 174 4-fluoro- H 4-fluorophenyl H H phenyl 175 4-fluoro- H 2-aminophenyl H H phenyl 176 4-fluoro- H 2-methylphenyl H H phenyl 177 4-fluoro- H 4-methylphenyl H H phenyl 178 4-fluoro- H 4-methoxyphenyl H H phenyl 179 4-fluoro- H 4-(propane- H H phenyl sulfonyl)phenyl 180 4-fluoro- H 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol- H H phenyl 5-yl 181 4-fluoro- H pyridin-2-yl H H phenyl 182 4-fluoro- H pyridin-3-yl H H phenyl 183 4-fluoro- methyl phenyl H H phenyl 184 4-fluoro- methyl 4-fluorophenyl H H phenyl 185 4-fluoro- methyl 2-aminophenyl H H phenyl 186 4-fluoro- methyl 2-methylphenyl H H phenyl 187 4-fluoro- methyl 4-methylphenyl H H phenyl 188 4-fluoro- methyl 4-methoxyphenyl H H phenyl 189 4-fluoro- methyl 4-(propane- H H phenyl sulfonyl)phenyl 190 4-fluoro- methyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol- H H phenyl 5-yl 191 4-fluoro- methyl pyridin-2-yl H H phenyl 192 4-fluoro- methyl pyridin-3-yl H H phenyl 193 4-fluoro- H phenyl methyl methyl phenyl 194 4-fluoro- H 4-fluorophenyl methyl methyl phenyl 195 4-fluoro- H 2-aminophenyl methyl methyl phenyl 196 4-fluoro- H 2-methylphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 197 4-fluoro- H 4-methylphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 198 4-fluoro- H 4-methoxyphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 199 4-fluoro- H 4-(propane- methyl methyl phenyl sulfonyl)phenyl 200 4-fluoro- H 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol- methyl methyl phenyl 5-yl 201 4-fluoro- H pyridin-2-yl methyl methyl phenyl 202 4-fluoro- H pyridin-3-yl methyl methyl phenyl 203 4-fluoro- methyl phenyl methyl methyl phenyl 204 4-fluoro- methyl 4-fluorophenyl methyl methyl phenyl 205 4-fluoro- methyl 2-aminophenyl methyl methyl phenyl 206 4-fluoro- methyl 2-methylphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 207 4-fluoro- methyl 4-methylphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 208 4-fluoro- methyl 4-methoxyphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 209 4-fluoro- methyl 4-(propane- methyl methyl phenyl sulfonyl)phenyl 210 4-fluoro- methyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol- methyl methyl phenyl 5-yl 211 4-fluoro- methyl pyridin-2-yl methyl methyl phenyl 212 4-fluoro- methyl pyridin-3-yl methyl methyl phenyl 213 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ phenyl H H phenyl 214 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-fluorophenyl H H phenyl 215 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 2-aminophenyl H H phenyl 216 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 2-methylphenyl H H phenyl 217 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-methylphenyl H H phenyl 218 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-methoxyphenyl H H phenyl 219 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-(propane- H H phenyl sulfonyl)phenyl 220 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol- H H phenyl 5-yl 221 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ pyridin-2-yl H H phenyl 222 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ pyridin-3-yl H H phenyl 223 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ phenyl methyl methyl phenyl 224 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-fluorophenyl methyl methyl phenyl 225 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 2-aminophenyl methyl methyl phenyl 226 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 2-methylphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 227 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-methylphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 228 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-methoxyphenyl methyl methyl phenyl 229 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 4-(propane- methyl methyl phenyl sulfonyl)phenyl 230 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol- methyl methyl phenyl 5-yl 231 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ pyridin-2-yl methyl methyl phenyl 232 4-fluoro- —CO₂CH₃ pyridin-3-yl methyl methyl phenyl

The compounds which comprise the second aspect of Category II analogs wherein R is an amino unit, can be prepared by the Scheme outlined herein below starting with common intermediate 11. For the following example R^(9a) and R^(9b) are each methyl and R is (S)-(1-phenyl)ethylamino.

EXAMPLE 9 6-Dimethylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(1-phenylethylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (26)

Preparation of 4-dimethylamino-2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (21): To a solution of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-oxo-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 11, (3.6 g, 10 mmol) and dimethylamine (10 mL of a 2M solution, 20 mmol) in THF at room temperature is added Na(OAc)₃BH (3.1 g, 15 mmol) and HOAc (0.6 g, 10 mmol). The solution is stirred 12 hours then partitioned between diethyl ether and NaHCO₃. The aqueous layer was extracted several times with ether and the organic layers combined, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to a clear oil which was re-dissolved in ether and one equivalent of ethereal HCl is added and a white solid forms. The solid is collected by filtration to afford the desired product as the HCl salt.

Preparation of 1-(4-dimethylamino-pyrazolidin-1-yl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-ethanone (22): 4-dimethylamino-2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester HCl salt, 21, (4.22 g, 10 mmol) is dissolved in methanol and Pd/C (100 mg) is added. The solution is then hydrogenated of a Parr® Hydrogenation Apparatus 18 hours after which time the catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo to afford the desired product.

Preparation of 1-[4-dimethylamino-2-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)-pyrazolidin-1-yl]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-ethanone (23): To a solution of 1-(4-dimethylamino-pyrazolidin-1-yl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-ethanone, 22, (2.5 g, 10 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 mL) is added 2-methylsulfonyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride (3.7 g, 20 mmol) followed by dropwise addition of a 1.0 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (35 mL). The mixture is vigorously stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. The reaction is diluted with dichloromethane (100 mL) and washed with water (100 mL). The aqueous layer is back-extracted with dichloromethane (100 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (100 mL) and brine (100 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting crude material is purified over silica (1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to 100% ethyl acetate) to afford the desired product.

Preparation of 6-dimethylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (24): 1-[4-Dimethylamino-2-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)-pyrazolidin-1-yl]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-ethanone, 23, (4.0 g, 10 mmol) is dissolved in THF (75 mL). This solution is then added dropwise via cannula to a suspension of NaH (0.440 g of a 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 11 mmol) at −30° C. The reaction is allowed to gradually warm to 0° C. over 3 hours. The reaction is quenched with NH₄Cl (sat. aq.) (15 mL). The mixture is stirred at room temperature, then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is diluted with tetrahydrofuran (250 mL) and the mixture filtered through Celite. The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo to give an oil. The crude product is purified over silica (100% ethyl acetate to 5% to 10% to 20% methyl alcohol/ethyl acetate) to afford the desired product.

Preparation of 6-dimethylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (25): To a solution of 6-dimethylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 24, (3.9 g, 10 mmol) in THF:methanol (150 mL of a 1:1 mixture) is added dropwise a solution of Oxone® (potassium peroxymonosulfate) (24.3 g, 39.5 mmol) in water (100 mL). The reaction is stirred 1 hour at room temperature, diluted with aqueous NaHCO₃ and extract three times with ethyl acetate. The organic layers are combined, dried, and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude desired product which is used without further purification.

Preparation of 6-dimethylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(1-(S)-phenylethylamino)-pyrimidin-4yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (26): A solution of the crude 6-dimethylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1one, 25, prepared as described herein above (4.2 g, 10 mmol) and (S)-(−)-α-methyl-benzyl amine (45.2 mL, 351 mmol) are dissolved in toluene (100 mL). The resulting mixture is heated to 140° C. for 12 hours, cooled to room temperature and the solvent removed in vacuo. The resulting residue is purified over silica (1:1 EtOAc/hexanes) to afford the desired product.

Category III of inflammatory cytokine release inhibiting compounds according to the present invention have the general scaffold having the formula:

the first aspect of which relates to ether analogs having the formula:

wherein R and R¹ units are defined herein below in Table IV.

TABLE IV No. R¹ R 233 4-fluorophenyl phenoxy 234 4-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy 235 4-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy 236 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy 237 4-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy 238 4-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy 239 4-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy 240 4-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy 241 4-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy 242 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenoxy 243 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy 244 4-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy 245 4-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy 246 4-fluorophenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy 247 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy 248 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 249 3-fluorophenyl phenoxy 250 3-fluorophenyl 2-fluorophenoxy 251 3-fluorophenyl 3-fluorophenoxy 252 3-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenoxy 253 3-fluorophenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy 254 3-fluorophenyl 2-cyanophenoxy 255 3-fluorophenyl 3-cyanophenoxy 256 3-fluorophenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy 257 3-fluorophenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy 258 3-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenoxy 259 3-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenoxy 260 3-fluorophenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy 261 3-fluorophenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy 262 3-fluorophenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy 263 3-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy 264 3-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl 265 3-trifluoromethylphenyl phenoxy 266 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-fluorophenoxy 267 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-fluorophenoxy 268 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-fluorophenoxy 269 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2,6-difluorophenoxy 270 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-cyanophenoxy 271 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-cyanophenoxy 272 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-trifluoromethylphenoxy 273 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenoxy 274 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-methylphenoxy 275 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-methylphenoxy 276 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2,4-dimethylphenoxy 277 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-N-acetylaminophenoxy 278 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 2-methoxyphenoxy 279 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 4-methoxyphenoxy 280 3-trifluoromethylphenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl

The compounds which comprise the first aspect of the Category III compounds can be prepared by the scheme outline below utilizing intermediate 8 as a convenient starting material.

EXAMPLE 10 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-hydroxy-3-(2-phenoxypyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (36)

Preparation of 4-oxo-pyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester (27): 4-methylene-pyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester, 8, (23.9 g, 75.1 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (200 mL). The solution is cooled to −78° C. and purged with oxygen for 5 minutes. Ozone gas is passed through the solution until a deep blue color persists in the solution (approx. 20 minutes). The solution is purged with oxygen and argon, and then charged with 40 mL of dimethylsulfide. The cooling bath is removed, and the solution stirred at ambient temperature for 12 hours. The reaction solution is then concentrated in vacuo and the resulting oil purified over silica (3:1 to 2:1 hexane/ethyl acetate) to afford 13.5 g (56% yield).of the desired product as a viscous, clear oil

Preparation of 4-hydroxypyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester (28): 4-Oxo-pyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester, 27, (5.0 g, 15.6 mmol) is dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (150 mL) and the solution cooled to −78° C. A 5.0 M solution of borane-dimethyl sulfide complex in ether (6.24 mL, 31.2 mmol) is added dropwise via syringe. After 40 minutes at −78° C., the reaction is quenched by slow addition of a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride (20 mL). The cooling bath is removed, and the mixture allowed to warm to ambient temperature with vigorous stirring. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the residue diluted with dichloromethane (200 mL). The mixture is washed with water (150 mL) and saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution (150 mL), water and brine. The combined aqueous layers are extracted with dichloromethane (200 mL), water (150 mL), NaCl (sat.) (200 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 4.66 g (93% yield) of the desired product as a clear, viscous oil.

Preparation of 4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy)pyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester (29): 4-Hydroxypyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester, 28, (1.42 mg, 4.40 mmol) is dissolved in pyridine (22 mL). 4-Dimethylamino-pyridine (10 mg) is added followed by trimethylacetyl chloride (1.63 mL, 13.2 mmol). The reaction is stirred at ambient temperature for 12 hours. The cloudy reaction mixture is then concentrated in vacuo to afford a white residue. Dichloro-methane (75 mL) is added to the residue and the mixture washed with a 1.0 N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid (75 mL). The aqueous layer is extracted with dichloro-methane (75 mL), the combined organic layers washed with a saturated aqueous solution of NaHCO₃ (75 mL), water (75 mL), brine (75 mL), then dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude product. The crude product is purified over silica(4:1 to 1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate) to afford 1.76 g (98% yield) of the desired product as a clear, viscous oil.

Preparation of 4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy)pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester (30): 4-(2,2-Dimethylpropionyloxy)pyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester, 29, (1.76 g, 4.33 mmol) is dissolved in methanol (40 mL) and the solution cooled to 0° C. Thionyl chloride (3.16 mL, 43.3 mmol) is added dropwise and the reaction allowed to warm to room temperature and continue stirring 12 hours. The reaction solution is concentrated in vacuo to give afford 1.45 g (98% yield) of the desired product as the HCl salt as an off-white solid.

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester (31): 4-(2,2-Dimethylpropionyloxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester, 30, (1.45 g, 4.23 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (21 mL). The solution is cooled to 0° C. and triethylamine (1.30 mL, 9.31 mmol) added dropwise via syringe. The cold bath is removed and the reaction allowed to warm to room temperature and continue stirring 20 minutes. 4-Fluorophenylacetic acid (848 mg, 5.50 mmol) is added. After stirring for 5 minutes, the reaction mixture is transferred via cannula into a solution of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrogen chloride in dichloromethane (21 mL) maintained at 0° C. The reaction is allowed to stir and gradually warm to room temperature over 12 hours. The reaction is washed with a 5% aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (2×50 mL). The combined aqueous layers are extracted several times with dichloromethane (50 mL) and the combined organic layers washed with brine, dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product is purified over silica (2:1 to 1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate) to afford 1.71 g (91% yield) of the desired product as a white solid.

Preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester (32): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester, 31, (1.71 g, 3.86 mmol) is dissolved in methanol (40 mL). The flask is flushed with nitrogen and charged with 10% palladium on carbon (300 mg). The reaction flask is stirred vigorously at room temperature under 1 atmosphere of hydrogen gas for 6 hours. The flask is flushed with nitrogen and the reaction mixture filtered through a pad of Celite, rinsing with ethyl acetate (100 mL). The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo to afford 1.18 g (98% yield) of the desired product as a tan solid.

Preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-2-(methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester (33): To a solution of 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester, 32, (427 mg, 1.79 mmol) in dichloromethane (3 mL) is added 2-methylsulfonyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride (676 mg, 3.58 mmol) followed by dropwise addition of a 1.0 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (6 mL). The mixture is vigorously stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. The reaction is diluted with dichloromethane (25 mL) and washed with water (25 mL). The aqueous layer is back-extracted with dichloromethane (25 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (25 mL) and brine (25 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting crude material is purified over silica (1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to 100% ethyl acetate) to afford 464 mg (96.6% yield) of the desired product as a brown, viscous oil.

Preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-2-yl ester (34): 2,2-Dimethyl-propionic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-2-(methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester, 33, (300 mg, 0.651 mmol) is dissolved in THF (6 mL). This solution is then added dropwise via cannula to a suspension of NaH (29 mg of a 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.716 mmol) at −30° C. The reaction is allowed to gradually warm to 0° C. over 3 hours. The reaction is quenched with NH₄Cl (sat. aq.) (1 mL). The mixture is stirred at room temperature, then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is diluted with tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) and the mixture filtered through Celite. The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo to give an orange oil. The crude product is purified over silica (100% ethyl acetate to 5% to 10% to 20% methyl alcohol/ethyl acetate) to afford 87 mg (30% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid.

Preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-methane-sulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-2-yl ester (35): 2,2-Dimethyl-propionic acid 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-2-yl ester, 34, (96 mg, 0.217 mmol) is dissolved in chloroform (2 mL). The solution was cooled to 0° C. and a solution of 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (117 mg of ˜77% purity, 0.521 mmol) in chloroform (3 mL) is added dropwise to the yellow suspension. The reaction is stirred at 0° C. for 3 hours, then at room temperature for 12 hours. The yellow-colored reaction solution is washed with NaHSO₃ (sat. aq.) (2×15 mL). The layers are separated and the aqueous layer extracted with chloroform (2×15 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with NaHCO₃ (sat. aq.) (20 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 50 mg (48% yield) of the desired product as a yellow oil.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-hydroxy-3-(2-phenoxypyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (36): A solution of 2,2-dimethyl-propionic acid 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-methane-sulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-y)-5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-2-yl ester, 35, (50 mg, 0.105 mmol) in THF (1 mL) is slowly cannulated into a solution of sodium phenolate in THF (1 mL) at 0° C. The cooling bath is removed and the reaction stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction is quenched with NH₄Cl (sat. aq.) (500 μL). The reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the residue diluted taken up in ethyl acetate (15 mL). The solution is washed with water (20 mL) and a 5% aqueous Na₂CO₃ (20 mL). The combined aqueous layers are extracted with ethyl acetate (25 mL) and brine (20 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material is purified over silica (100% ethyl acetate to 5% to 10% to 20% methyl alcohol/ethyl acetate) to afford 9 mg (21% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.43 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.31-7.27 (m, 3H), 7.19 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.03 (t, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 6.80 (d, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 5.41 (br s, 1H), 4.82 (m, 1H), 4.23 (d, J=12.4 Hz, 1H), 3.95-3.85 (m, 2H), 3.76 (dd, J=12.4, 4.4 Hz, 1H); HRMS m/z calcd for C₂₂H₁₈FN₄O₃ (MH⁺) 405.1363, found 405.1365.

This procedure can be used to prepare Category III analogs of the first aspect wherein R⁸ is C₁-C₄ alkyl. Conversion of intermediate 28 to an Intermediate of Type IV, for example, the methoxy analog 37, by the following procedure allows the formulator to assemble 6-alkoxy ring analogs of Category III.

EXAMPLE 11

Preparation of 4-methoxypyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester (37): 4-Methoxypyrazolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 1-benzyl ester 2-tert-butyl ester, 28, (2.55 g, 7.91 mmol) is dissolved in dimethylformamide (40 mL). Methyl iodide (1.97 mL, 31.6 mmol) is added followed by silver oxide (3.67 g, 15.8 mmol). The flask is cover with foil and stirred for 12 hours in the absence of light. The reaction mixture is poured into ether (150 mL). The mixture is stirred vigorously at room temperature and filtered through a pad of Celite. The filtrate is washed with water (2×150 mL) and brine (150 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 2.58 g (97% yield) of the desired product as a yellow, clear oil.

The second aspect of Category III analogs relates to scaffolds having the R² substituent at the 6-position of the pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one ring system comprise a carbonyl unit selected from the group consisting of —(CH₂)_(j)CO₂R¹⁰; —(CH₂)_(j)OCO₂R¹⁰; —(CH₂)_(j)CON(R¹⁰)₂; and —(CH₂)_(j)OCON(R¹⁰)₂, wherein R²⁰ is the same as defined herein above. A non-limiting example of an analog according to the second aspect of Category III has the formula:

Table VII illustrates examples of this aspect of the present invention wherein two R¹⁰ units are taken together to form a ring.

TABLE VII No. R¹ R³ R¹⁰ ring 281 4-fluorophenyl phenyl morpholin-1-yl 282 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenyl morpholin-1-yl 283 4-fluorophenyl 2-aminophenyl morpholin-1-yl 284 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenyl morpholin-1-yl 285 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenyl morpholin-1-yl 286 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenyl morpholin-1-yl 287 4-fluorophenyl 4-(propanesulfonyl)phenyl morpholin-1-yl 288 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl morpholin-1-yl 289 4-fluorophenyl pyridin-2-yl morpholin-1-yl 290 4-fluorophenyl pyridin-3-yl morpholin-1-yl 291 4-fluorophenyl phenyl piperidin-1-yl 292 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenyl piperidin-1-yl 293 4-fluorophenyl 2-aminophenyl piperidin-1-yl 294 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenyl piperidin-1-yl 295 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenyl piperidin-1-yl 296 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenyl piperidin-1-yl 297 4-fluorophenyl 4-(propanesulfonyl)phenyl piperidin-1-yl 298 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl piperidin-1-yl 299 4-fluorophenyl pyridin-2-yl piperidin-1-yl 300 4-fluorophenyl pyridin-3-yl piperidin-1-yl 301 4-fluorophenyl phenyl piperazin-1-yl 302 4-fluorophenyl 4-fluorophenyl piperazin-1-yl 303 4-fluorophenyl 2-aminophenyl piperazin-1-yl 304 4-fluorophenyl 2-methylphenyl piperazin-1-yl 305 4-fluorophenyl 4-methylphenyl piperazin-1-yl 306 4-fluorophenyl 4-methoxyphenyl piperazin-1-yl 307 4-fluorophenyl 4-(propanesulfonyl)phenyl piperazin-1-yl 308 4-fluorophenyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl piperazin-1-yl 309 4-fluorophenyl pyridin-2-yl piperazin-1-yl 310 4-fluorophenyl pyridin-3-yl piperazin-1-yl

As described herein above, the procedure for preparing compounds included within the first aspect of Category III encompasses a final step wherein the O-protecting unit, inter alia, —C(O)C(CH₃)₃ is removed during the same step which adds the —OR³ unit to the scaffold, for example, the conversion of 35 to 36. For the analogs of the second aspect the following procedure, as outlined below, is use to prepare the analogs wherein one of the 6-position R² unit is a carbonyl unit as described herein under the second aspect of Category III.

The following scheme begins with intermediate 11 prepared as described herein above.

EXAMPLE 12 Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-oxo-7-(2-phenoxypyrimidin-4-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-2-yl ester (43)

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-hydroxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (38): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-oxo-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 11, (1.0 g, 2.81 mmol) is dissolved in THF (30 mL) and the solution cooled to −78° C. A 5.0 M solution of borane-dimethyl sulfide complex in ether (1.2 mL, 5.61 mmol) is added dropwise. After 1 hour at −78° C., the reaction is quenched by slow addition of NH₄Cl (sat. aq.) (10 mL). The cooling bath is then removed, and the mixture allowed to warm to room temperature with vigorous stirring. The THF is removed in vacuo and the residue diluted with water (50 mL). The mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give a yellow oil which is purified over silica (1:1 to 1:2 hexane/ethyl acetate to 100% ethyl acetate) to afford 731 mg (73% yield) as a clear, viscous oil.

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-(4-nitro-phenoxycarbonyloxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (39): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-hydroxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 38, (366 mg, 1.02 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). The solution is cooled to 0° C. and p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (411 mg, 2.04 mmol) is added in one portion. The solution is stirred at 0° C., and pyridine (198 μL, 2.45 mmol) added. Stirring is continued at 0° C. for 1 hour followed by stirring at room temperature for 12 hours. The reaction is diluted with water (40 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (40 mL). The organic layer is washed with 0.5 N NaOH (2×40 mL). The combined aqueous layers are back-extracted extracted with dichloromethane (30 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with brine (30 mL), dried, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material is purified over silica (3:1 to 2:1 to 1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate) to afford 462 mg (86% yield) of the desired product as a white foam.

Preparation of morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester (40): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-(4-nitro-phenoxycarbonyloxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 39, (462 mg, 0.882 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (9 mL). Morpholine (770 μL, 8.82 mmol) is added and the reaction immediately develops a light yellow color. After stirring about 1.5 hours at room temperature, the reaction is diluted with dichloromethane (20 mL) and washed with a 5% solution of Na₂CO₃ (2×20 mL). The combined aqueous layers are extracted with dichloromethane (20 mL), the organic layers combined, washed with water, brine, and dried. The solvent is removed in vacuo to afford 414 mg of the desired product as a clear oil.

Preparation of morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester (41): morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester, 40, (512 mg, 1.09 mmol) is dissolved in methanol (10 mL) and the flask flushed with nitrogen then charged with 10% palladium on carbon (103 mg). The reaction mixture is vigorously stirred and hydrogenated at 1 atmosphere for 2.5 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture is filtered through a pad of Celite, rinsed with ethyl acetate (100 mL) and concentrated in vacuo to afford 354 mg of the desired product as a white powder.

Preparation of morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-2-(2-phenoxypyrimidine-4-carbonyl)-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester (42): Morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester, 41, (354 mg, 1.05 mmol) and 2-phenoxypyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride, 18, (345 mg, 1.47 mmol) are dissolved in dichloromethane (2 mL). 1.0 N NaOH (3 mL) is added dropwise at room temperature while vigorously stirring. The reaction is allowed to proceed for 12 hours after which time additional acid chloride, 18, is added and stirring continued for 3 hours. Additional acid chloride, 18, (83 mg) is added and stirring continued for an additional 12 hours. After which time the reaction is diluted with dichloromethane (50 mL) and washed with water (50 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with NaHCO₃ (sat.) (50 mL) and brine (50 mL), dried, filtered and concentrated to provide a brown oil. The crude material is purified over silica (100% ethyl acetate to 5% methyl alcohol/ethyl acetate) afford 348 mg (61% yield) of the desired product as a viscous oil.

Preparation of morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-oxo-7-(2-phenoxypyrimidin-4-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-2-yl ester (43); A solution of morpholine-4-carboxylic acid 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-2-(2-phenoxypyrimidine-4-carbonyl)-pyrazolidin-4-yl ester, 42, (154 mg, 0.287 mmol) in dimethylformamide (3 mL) is added dropwise to a −10° C. suspension of sodium hydride (16.4 mg of a 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.410 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (3 mL). After 1 hour at −10° C., the reaction was warmed to 0° C. for 2 hours. The orange-colored solution is then quenched by slowly adding saturated NH₄Cl (400 μL). The cooling bath is removed, and the solution allowed to warm to room temperature. The reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue is dissolved in THF (25 mL) and filtered through a pad of Celite. The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo and the residue purified by Prep HPLC to afford 47 mg (32% yield) of the desired product as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.46 (d, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 7.47-7.18 (m, 9H), 7.08 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.89 (d, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 5.66 (m, 1H), 4.16 (m, 2H), 4.02 (d, J=12.9 Hz, 1H), 3.87 (dd, J=12.9, 5.1 Hz, 1H), 3.79-3.30 (m, 8H); HRMS m/z calcd for C₂₇H₂₅FN₅O₅ (MH⁺) 518.1840, found 518.1815.

The third aspect of Category III analogs relates to amino analogs having the formula:

wherein R units are amines having the formula —NH[CHR^(5b)]R⁶, and R¹, R^(5b), R⁶ and R⁸ are described herein below in Table VIII.

TABLE VIII No. R¹ R^(5b) R⁶ R⁸ 311 4-fluorophenyl H phenyl methyl 312 4-fluorophenyl H 4-fluorophenyl methyl 313 4-fluorophenyl H 2-aminophenyl methyl 314 4-fluorophenyl H 2-methylphenyl methyl 315 4-fluorophenyl H 4-methylphenyl methyl 316 4-fluorophenyl H 4-methoxyphenyl methyl 317 4-fluorophenyl H 4-(propanesulfonyl)phenyl methyl 318 4-fluorophenyl H 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl methyl 319 4-fluorophenyl H pyridin-2-yl methyl 320 4-fluorophenyl H pyridin-3-yl methyl 321 4-fluorophenyl H H methyl 322 4-fluorophenyl H methyl methyl 323 4-fluorophenyl H ethyl methyl 324 4-fluorophenyl H vinyl methyl 325 4-fluorophenyl H cyclopropyl methyl 326 4-fluorophenyl H cyclohexyl methyl 327 4-fluorophenyl H methoxymethyl methyl 328 4-fluorophenyl H methoxyethyl methyl 329 4-fluorophenyl H 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl methyl 330 4-fluorophenyl H —CO₂H methyl 331 4-fluorophenyl methyl phenyl methyl 332 4-fluorophenyl methyl 4-fluorophenyl methyl 333 4-fluorophenyl methyl 2-aminophenyl methyl 334 4-fluorophenyl methyl 2-methylphenyl methyl 335 4-fluorophenyl methyl 4-methylphenyl methyl 336 4-fluorophenyl methyl 4-methoxyphenyl methyl 337 4-fluorophenyl methyl 4-(propanesulfonyl)phenyl methyl 338 4-fluorophenyl methyl 3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl methyl 339 4-fluorophenyl methyl pyridin-2-yl methyl 340 4-fluorophenyl methyl pyridin-3-yl methyl 341 4-fluorophenyl methyl H methyl 342 4-fluorophenyl methyl methyl methyl 343 4-fluorophenyl methyl ethyl methyl 344 4-fluorophenyl methyl vinyl methyl 345 4-fluorophenyl methyl cyclopropyl methyl 346 4-fluorophenyl methyl cyclohexyl methyl 347 4-fluorophenyl methyl methoxymethyl methyl 348 4-fluorophenyl methyl methoxyethyl methyl 349 4-fluorophenyl methyl 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl methyl 350 4-fluorophenyl methyl —CO₂H methyl

The analogs which comprise the third aspect of Category III of the present invention can be prepared using the procedure outlined herein below beginning with intermediate 28.

EXAMPLE 13 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-3-[2-(2-(S)-methoxy-1-methylethylamino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (51)

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-methoxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (44): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-hydroxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 28, (2.55 g, 7.91 mmol) is dissolved in dimethylformamide (40 mL). Methyl iodide (1.97 mL, 31.6 mmol) is added followed by silver oxide (3.67 g, 15.8 mmol). The flask is cover with foil and stirred overnight in the absence of light. The reaction mixture is poured into ether (150 mL). The mixture is stirred vigorously at room temperature and filtered through a pad of Celite. The filtrate is washed with water (2×150 mL) and brine (150 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 2.58 g (97% yield) of the desired product as a yellow, clear oil.

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-(4-methoxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (45): 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-methoxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 44, (2.57 g, 7.64 mmol) is dissolved in methyl alcohol (75 mL) and the solution cooled to 0° C. Thionyl chloride (5.58 mL, 76.4 mmol) is added dropwise and the reaction is allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. The reaction solution is concentrated in vacuo to afford 2.07 g (99% yield) of the desired product as the HCl salt as an off-white solid.

Preparation of 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-methoxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (46): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-(4-methoxy)-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 45, (8.81 g, 32.3 mmol) is dissolved in dichloromethane (150 mL). 4-fluorophenylacetyl chloride (5.31 g, 38.8 mmol) is added followed by a 0.5 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (150 mL). The mixture is stirred vigorously at room temperature for 6 hours. The reaction is diluted with dichloromethane (200 mL) and washed with water (200 mL). The aqueous layer is extracted with dichloromethane (2×200 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with 5% aqueous sodium carbonate solution (250 mL) and brine (250 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 12.0 g of the desired product as a viscous, tan oil.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxy-pyrazolidin-1-yl)-ethanone (47): 2-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)acetyl]-4-methoxy-pyrazolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl ester, 46, (12.0 g, 32.2 mmol) is dissolved in methyl alcohol (300 mL). The flask is flushed with nitrogen and charged with 10% palladium on carbon (1.2 g). The reaction mixture is stirred vigorously at room temperature under 1 atmosphere of hydrogen gas for 3 hours. The flask is flushed with nitrogen and the reaction mixture filtered through a pad of Celite, rinsing with ethyl acetate (100 mL). The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo to afford 7.67 g of the desired product as a viscous, clear oil.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[4-methoxy-2-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)pyrazolidine-1-yl]-ethanone (48): 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxy-pyrazolidin-1-yl)-ethanone, 47, (7.67 g, 32.2 mmol) and 2-methylsulfonyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl chloride (9.11 g, 48.3 mmol) are dissolved in dichloromethane (150 mL). A 0.5 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (150 mL) is added steadily via addition funnel and the mixture is stirred vigorously at room temperature for 4 hours. The reaction is diluted with 5% aqueous sodium carbonate solution (1 L). The mixture is extracted with dichloromethane (6×200 mL). The combined organic layers are dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give a red oil. The crude material is purified by over silica (1:1 to 1:3 hexane/ethyl acetate to 100% ethyl acetate) to afford 10.3 g of the desired product as a brown, viscous oil.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (49): A solution of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[4-methoxy-2-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidine-4-carbonyl)pyrazolidine-1-yl]-ethanone, 48, (2.04 g, 5.22 mmol) in 1:1 dimethylformamide/tetrahydrofuran (30 mL) is added dropwise to a 0° C. suspension of sodium hydride (230 mg of a 60% dispersion in mineral oil, 5.75 mmol) in dimethylformamide (60 mL). After 2 hours at 0° C., the bright red solution is quenched by slow addition of a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride (5 mL). The cold bath is removed, and the solution allowed to warm to room temperature. The reaction mixture is concentrated in vacuo and the resultant residue diluted with ethyl acetate (175 mL). The mixture is washed with a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride (150 mL). The aqueous layer is extracted with ethyl acetate (4×75 mL). The combined organic layers are dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material is purified over silica gel (100% ethyl acetate to 5% to 10% to 20% methyl alcohol/ethyl acetate) to afford 1.1 g (57% yield) of the desired product as an orange oil.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (50): 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-3-(2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 49, (1.10 g, 2.95 mmol) is diluted with dichloromethane (60 mL). 3-Chloroperbenzoic acid (662 mg of ˜77% purity, 2.95 mmol) is added all at once to the yellow suspension. After 20 min, additional 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (240 mg, 1.07 mmol) is added. After 10 minutes, the clear, yellow reaction solution is poured in a 10% aqueous solution of sodium bisulfite (60 mL). The layers are separated and the aqueous layer extracted with dichloromethane (2×50 mL). The combined organic layers are washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (2×50 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford 948 mg of a mixture of the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone as a yellow solid. Used as is for next step.

Preparation of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-3-[2-(2-(S)-methoxy-1-methylethylamino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one (51): 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-3-(2-methanesulfonyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one admixture, 50, (948 mg, 2.44 mmol) and (S)-2-amino-1-methoxypropane (652 mg, 7.32 mmol) is diluted with toluene (16 mL). The mixture is heated to 120° C. for 2 hours. The orange solution is allowed to cool to room temperature prior to concentration in vacuo to give an orange residue. The crude product is purified over silica (5% to 10% methyl alcohol/dichloro-methane) to afford 550 mg of the desired product as a fluorescent yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.16 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.40 (dd, J=8.8, 5.5 Hz, 2H), 7.03 (t, J=8.8 Hz, 2H), 6.39 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 5.39 (br d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.57 (m, 1H), 4.30-4.02 (m, 5H), 3.45 (d, J=4.6 Hz, 2H), 3.42 (s, 3H), 3.39 (s, 3H), 1.28 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 3H); HRMS m/z calcd for C₂₁H₂₅FN₅O₃ (MH⁺) 414.1941, found 414.1945.

Using intermediate 10, which comprises a 6-methylene unit, the following analog can be prepared using the same procedures as outlined herein above:

2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-methylene-3-[2-(2-(S)-phenyl-1-methylethylamino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 52; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 300 MHz)δ1.60 (d, 3H, J=6.9 Hz), 4.52 (dd, 2H, J=15.9, 24 Hz), 5.08-5.15 (m, 2H), 5.26 (s, 1H), 6.03 (s, 1H), 6.38 (d, 1H), J=5.1 Hz), 7.00-7.05 (m, 2H), 7.22-7.42 (m, 8H), 8.16 (d, 1H, J=5.1 Hz). HRMS: Exact Mass C₂₅H₂₂FN₅O 428.1887 (M⁺+H), found 428.1871.

Intermediate 10 can also be oxidized under standard conditions, according to the scheme herein below, using OsO₄ to afford the intermediate, 53:

which can be used to prepare the following:

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-6-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-3-(2-phenoxypyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one, 54; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, 300 MHz) δ 3.41-3.52 (m, 2H), 3.72-3.86 (m, 3H), 3.94 (d, 1H, J=11.1 Hz), 5.23 (t, 1H, J=5.7 Hz), 5.71 (s, 1H), 7.06 (d, 1H, J=4.8 Hz), 7.18-7.34 (m, 5H), 7.40-7.50 (m; 4H), 8.69 (d, 1H, J=4.8 Hz). ESI⁼MS: m/z (rel intensity) 435.32 (100, M⁺+H) Anal. Calculated for C₂₃H₁₉FN₄O₄ 0.5H₂O: C, 62.30; H, 4.55; N, 12.63. Found: C, 62.33; H, 4.13; N, 12.41.

Other compounds of the present invention which can be prepared by the procedures or modifications thereof disclosed herein above include the following.

-   2-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-(6-aminopyrimidin-4-yloxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(3-fluorophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(2,4-dimethylphenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(2-phenoxy-pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-[2-(4-chlorophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo-[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[1-(R,S)-(4-fluorophenyl)ethylamino]pyrimidin-4-yl}-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-{4-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-6,7-dihydro-3H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-yl]-pyrimidin-2-ylamino}-propionic     acid; -   2-{4-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-6,7-dihydro-3H,5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-yl]-pyrimidin-2-ylamino}-N,N-dimethyl     propionamide; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(2-([1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-ylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-[(2-methoxypropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[(furan-2-ylmethyl)amino]pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[(3-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)amino]pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-[(1-(propane-1-sulfonyl)piperidin-4-ylamino]pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one; -   2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-{2-(4-methoxybenzylamino)amino]pyrimidin-4-yl]-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazol-1-one;

The analogs (compounds) of the present invention are arranged in several categories to assist the formulator in applying a rational synthetic strategy for the preparation of analogs which are not expressly exampled herein. The arrangement of the compounds into categories does not imply increased or decreased efficacy for any of the compositions of matter described herein.

Compounds listed and described herein above have been found in many instances to exhibit activities (IC₅₀ in the cell based assay described herein below or ones which are referenced herein) at a level below 1 micromolar (μM).

The antagonists of the present invention are capable of effectively blocking the production of inflammatory cytokine production from cells, which thereby allows for the mitigation, alleviation, control, abatement, retardation, or prevention of one or more disease states or syndromes which are related to the extracellular release of one or more cytokines. Inflammatory disease states include those which are related to the following non-limiting examples.

Diseases Affected by Cytokine Activity

The following diseases are affected by the presence of undesirable levels of extracellular cytokines.

-   A) The analogs of the present invention are directed to the     interruption of the extracellular release of Interleukin-1 (IL-1)     which has been implicated as the molecule responsible for a large     number of disease states, inter alia, rheumatoid arthritis,^(1,2,3)     osteoarthritis,^(4,5,6,7,8,9) as well as other disease states which     relate to connective tissue degradation (periodontal disease, muscle     degeneration).¹⁰ -   B) The analogs of the present invention are also directed to the     interruption of the extracellular release of Cycloxygenase-2     (COX-2), which has been shown to be increased by cytokines.¹¹     Disease states and conditions which are assertedly affected by COX-2     include fever, malaise, myalgia, and headache.¹² -   C) The analogs of the present invention are further directed to the     interruption of the extracellular release of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α     (TNF-α). This pro-inflammatory cytokine is suggested as an important     mediator in many disease states or syndromes, inter alia, rheumatoid     arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute and chronic inflammatory diseases,     which are induced by endotoxin, or irritable bowel disease (IBD),     Crohn's, and ulcerative colitis, septic shock, cardiopulmonary     dysfunction, acute respiratory disease, and cachexia. -   D) The analogs of the present invention which are effective     antagonists are capable of modulation, controlling, or otherwise     abating the unwanted release of unwanted cytokines or excess     cytokines or can be used to treat other disease states relating to     cytokine activity. Non-limiting examples of diseases or disease     states linked to cytokine activity include congestive heart failure;     hypertension;¹³ chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and     septic shock syndrome;¹⁴ tuberculosis, adult respiratory distress     syndrome, asthma;¹⁵ atherosclerosis;¹⁶ muscle degeneration and     periodontal disease;¹⁷ cachexia, Reiter's syndrome, gout, acute     synovitis, eating disorders, inter alia, anorexia and bulimia     nervosa;¹⁸ fever, malaise, myalgia and headaches.¹⁹

In addition, other disease states have been linked to cytokine activity. Non-limiting examples of diseases, disease states, syndromes (both chronic and acute) which are related to unwanted or over release of inflammatory cytokines include diabetes²⁰ and HIV/AIDS.²¹

The following are non-limiting examples of the connection between over activity, over expression, and unwanted extracellular release of cytokines and diseases and disease states.

Congestive Heart Failure

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as other pro-inflammatory cytokines, inter alia, Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6, have been found in patients with advanced heart failure due to ischemic or idiopathic cardiomyopathies.^(22,23,24,25) For example, Aukrust et a.²⁶ have found that patients with congestive heat failure have elevated plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, inter alia, TNF-α, IL-1β.

It has been found by Behr et a.²⁷ that volume-overload congestive heart failure in rats is associated with alterations in the expression and receptor binding of the cytokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1). It is therefore well established that inhibition of cytokines, for example, by 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones according to the present invention which inhibit the extracellular release of inflammatory cytokines, are effective as a method for controlling, mediating, or otherwise modulating congestive heart failure or other cardiac diseases associated with the unwanted release of extracellular cytokines.

Crohn's Disease

Compounds which affect the activity of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), for example, selective analogs according to the present invention, have been shown to mediate Crohn's disease.

For example, Stack et al.²⁸ exposed patients in a double blind test to a genetically engineered human antibody to TNF-α, CDP571. A single 5 mg/kg infusion of this TNF-α activity modulating antibody reduced disease activity in Crohn's disease at 2 weeks. Data such as these suggest that neutralization of TNF-α, for example, by an antibody or other factor such as a compound which inhibits cytokine activity, is an effective strategy in the management of Crohn's disease. The compounds of the present invention capable of inhibiting TNF-α are suitable for use in a method of treating Crohn's disease.

Each of the disease states or conditions which the formulator desires to treat may require differing levels or amounts of the compounds described herein to obtain a therapeutic level. The formulator can determine this amount by any of the known testing procedures known to the artisan.

The following relate to the connection between cytokine activity and diseases or disease states and are included herein by reference.

-   1. Dinarello, C. A. et al., Rev Infect Disease, 6:51, (1984). -   2. Maini, R. E., The Lancet, 354: 1932, (1999). -   3. Weinblatt, M. E., New England Journal of Medicine, 340, 253,     (1999). -   4. Pelletier and Pelletier, J Rheum, 16:19, (1989). -   5. Pelletier et al., Am J Path, 142:95, (1993). -   6. Farahat et al., Ann Rheum Dis, 52:870, (1993). -   7. Tiku et al, Cell Immunol, 140:1, (1992). -   8. Webb et al., O and C, 5:427, (1997). -   9. Westacott et al., O and C, 8:213, (2000). -   10. Howells, Oral Diseases, 1:266, (1995). -   11. M. K. O'Banion et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89, 4888     (1998). -   12. Beisael, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62:813, (1995). -   13. Singh, et al., Journal of Hypertension, 9:867 (1996); -   14. Dinarello, C. A., Nutrition 11:492 (1995); -   15. Renzetti, et al. Inflammation Res. 46:S143; -   16. Elhage, et al., Circulation 97:242 (1998); -   17. Howells, Oral Dis. 1:266 (1995); -   18. Holden, et al., Medical Hypothesis 47:423 (1996); -   19. Beisel, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62:813 (1995). -   20. McDaniel et al., Proc Soc, Exp, Biol Med, 211:24, (1996). -   21. Kreuzer et al., Clinical Experiments Immunology, 45:559, (1997). -   22. Levine B, Kalman J, Mayer L, et al. Elevated circulating levels     of tumor necrosis factor in severe chronic heart failure. New     England Journal of Medicine, 323, 236-241 (1990). -   23. Dutka D P, Elborn J S, Delamere F, et al., Tumor necrosis factor     alpha in severe congestive cardiac failure. British Heart Journal,     70 141-143 (1993). -   24.Torre-Amione G, Kapadia S, Lee J, et al. Tumor necrosis factor-α     and tumor necrosis factor receptors in the failing human heart.     Circulation, 93, 704-711 (1996). -   25 Packer M. Is tumor necrosis factor an important neurohormonal     mechanism in chronic heart failure? Circulation, 92, 1379-1382     (1995). -   26. P     l Aukrust et al., Cytokine Network in Congestive Heart Failure     Secondary to lschemic or Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy, American     Journal of Cardiology, 83, 376-382 (1999). -   27. Behr T M et al., Monocyte Chemoattractant Protei-1 is     Upregulated in Rats with Volume-Overload Congestive Heart Failure,     Circulation, 102, 1315-1322 (2000). -   28. Stack, W A; Mann, S D; Roy, A J; et al., The Lancet; Feb 22,     1977; 349, 9051.

The present invention further relates to forms of the present compounds, which under normal human or higher mammalian physiological conditions, release the compounds described herein. One iteration of this aspect includes the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the analogs described herein. The formulator, for the purposes of compatibility with delivery mode, excipients, and the like, can select one salt form of the present analogs over another since the compounds themselves are the active species which mitigate the disease processes described herein.

Related to this aspect are the various precursor of “pro-drug” forms of the analogs of the present invention. It may be desirable to formulate the compounds of the present invention as a chemical species which itself is not active against the cytokine activity described herein, but instead are forms of the present analogs which when delivered to the body of a human or higher mammal will undergo a chemical reaction catalyzed by the normal function of the body, inter alia, enzymes present in the stomach, blood serum, said chemical reaction releasing the parent analog. The term “pro-drug” relates to these species which are converted in vivo to the active pharmaceutical.

Formulations

The present invention also relates to compositions or formulations which comprise the inflammatory cytokine release-inhibiting compounds according to the present invention. In general, the compositions of the present invention comprise:

-   -   a) an effective amount of one or more bicyclic pyrazolones and         derivatives thereof according to the present invention which are         effective for inhibiting release of inflammatory cytokines; and     -   b) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

For the purposes of the present invention the term “excipient” and “carrier” are used interchangeably throughout the description of the present invention and said terms are defined herein as, “ingredients which are used in the practice of formulating a safe and effective pharmaceutical composition.”

The formulator will understand that excipients are used primarily to serve in delivering a safe, stable, and functional pharmaceutical, serving not only as part of the overall vehicle for delivery but also as a means for achieving effective absorption by the recipient of the active ingredient. An excipient may fill a role as simple and direct as being an inert filler, or an excipient as used herein may be part of a pH stabilizing system or coating to insure delivery of the ingredients safely to the stomach. The formulator can also take advantage of the fact the compounds of the present invention have improved cellular potency, pharmacokinetic properties, as well as improved oral bioavailability.

The present invention also relates to compositions or formulations which comprise a “precursor” form or “pro-drug” form of the inflammatory cytokine release-inhibiting compounds according to the present invention. In general, these precursor-comprising compositions of the present invention comprise:

-   -   a) an effective amount of one or more precursor forms or other         derivatives of bicyclic pyrazolones according to the present         invention which act to release in vivo the corresponding analog         which is effective for inhibiting release of inflammatory         cytokines; and     -   b) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

Method of Use

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the level of one or more inflammation inducing cytokines, interalia, interleukin-1 (IL-1), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) and thereby controlling, mediating, or abating disease states affected by the levels of extracellular inflammatory cytokines. The present method comprises the step of administering to a human or higher mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more of the inflammatory cytokine inhibitors according to the present invention.

A first aspect of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones useful in controlling diseases or disease states relates to:

A method for controlling the extracellular release of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) cytokines in human and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones effective in controlling COX-2.

A second aspect relates to:

A method for controlling the extracellular release of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), in human and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]pyrazol-1-ones effective in controlling TNF-α.

A third aspect relates to:

A method for controlling a disease or disease state in humans or higher mammals, said disease or disease state chosen from congestive heart failure; hypertension; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and septic shock syndrome; tuberculosis, adult respiratory distress, and asthma; atherosclerosis; muscle degeneration and periodontal disease; cachexia, Reiter's syndrome, gout, acute synovitis, anorexia, bulimia nervosa; fever, malaise, myalgia and headaches, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]-pyrazol-1-ones according to the present invention.

A fourth aspect relates to:

A method for preventing elevated plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines in humans and higher mammals wherein said cytokines are chosen from TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, thereby controlling or treating congestive heart failure in humans and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]-pyrazol-1-ones according to the present invention.

A fifth aspect relates to:

A method for treating Crohn's disease or alleviating the symptoms thereof in humans by controlling the extracellular release of cytokines, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2a]-pyrazol-1-ones according to the present invention.

Because the inflammatory cytokine inhibitors of the present invention can be delivered in a manner wherein more than one site of control can be achieved, more than one disease state can be modulated at the same time. Non-limiting examples of diseases which are affected by control or inhibition of inflammatory cytokine inhibitors, thereby modulating excessive cytokine activity, include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Procedures

The compounds of the present invention can be evaluated for efficacy, for example, measurements of cytokine inhibition constants, K_(i), and IC₅₀ values can be obtained by any method chosen by the formulator.

Non-limiting examples of suitable assays include:

-   -   i) UV-visible substrate enzyme assay as described by L. Al         Reiter, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res., 43, 87-96 (1994).     -   ii) Fluorescent substrate enzyme assay as described by         Thornberry et al., Nature, 356, 768-774 (1992).     -   iii) PBMC Cell assay as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,261 B1         Batchelor et al., issued Mar. 20, 2001.

Each of the above citations is included herein by reference.

In addition, Tumor Necrosis Factor, TNF-α, inhibition can be measured by utilizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated human monocytic cells (THP-1) as described in:

-   -   i) K. M. Mohler et al., “Protection Against a Lethal Dose of         Endotoxin by an Inhibitor of Tumour Necrosis Factor Processing”,         Nature, 370, pp 218-220 (1994).     -   ii) U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,381 B1 Cirillo et al., issued Oct. 2,         2001, incorporated by reference and reproduced herein below in         relevant portion thereof.

The inhibition of cytokine production can be observed by measuring inhibition of TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide stimulated THP cells. All cells and reagents are diluted in RPMI 1640 with phenol red and L-glutamine, supplemented with additional L-glutamine (total: 4 mM), penicillin and streptomycin (50 units/mL each) and fetal bovine serum (FBS 3%) (GIBCO, all conc. Final). Assay is performed under sterile conditions, only test compound preparation is non-sterile. Initial stock solutions are made in DMSO followed by dilution into RPMI 1640 2-fold higher than the desired final assay concentration. Confluent THP.1 cells (2×10⁶ cells/mL, final conc.; American Type Culture Company, Rockville, Md.) are added to 96 well polypropylene round bottomed culture plates (Costar 3790; sterile) containing 125 μL test compound (2-fold concentrated) or DMSO vehicle (controls, blanks). DMSO concentration should not exceed 0.2% final. Cell mixture is allowed to preincubate for 30 minutes at 37° C., 5% CO₂ prior to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL final; Sigma L-2630, from E. coli serotype 0111.B4; stored as 1 mg/mL stock in endotoxin screened diluted H₂O vehicle at −80° C.). Blanks (unstimulated) receive H₂O vehicle; final incubation volume is 250 μL. Incubation (4 hours) proceeds as described above. Assay is to be terminated by centrifuging plates 5 minutes at room temperature, 1600 rpm (4033 g); supernatants are then transferred to clean 96 well plates and stored at −80° C. until analyzed for human TNF-α by a commercially available ELISA kit (Biosource #KHC3015, Camarillo, Calif.). The calculated IC₅₀ value is the concentration of the test compound that caused a 50% decrease in the maximal TNF-α production.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A method for preventing elevated plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines in humans and higher mammals wherein said cytokines are chosen from TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, thereby controlling or treating congestive heart failure in humans and higher mammals, said method comprising the step of administering to said humans or higher mammals a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds, including all enantiomeric and diasteriomeric forms or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the formula:

wherein R is: a) —O[CH₂]_(k)R³; or b) —NR^(4a)R^(4b); R³ is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or alkylenearyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl or alkyleneheteroaryl; the index k is from 0 to 5; R^(4a) and R^(4b) are each independently: a) hydrogen; or b) —[C(R^(5a)R^(5b))]_(m)R⁶; each R^(5a) and R^(5b) are independently hydrogen, —OR⁷, —N(R⁷)₂, —CO₂R⁷, —CON(R⁷)₂; C₁-C₄ linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R⁶ is hydrogen, —OR⁷, —N(R⁷)₂, —CO₂R⁷, —CON(R⁷)₂; substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; R⁷ is hydrogen, a water-soluble cation, C₁-C₄ alkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted aryl; the index m is from 0 to 5; R¹ is: a) substituted or unsubstituted aryl; or b) substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; each R² unit is independently selected from the group consisting of: a) hydrogen; b) —(CH₂)_(j)O(CH₂)_(n)R⁸; c) —(CH₂)_(j)NR^(9a)R^(9b); d) —(CH₂)_(j)CO₂R¹⁰; e) —(CH₂)_(j)OCO₂R¹⁰ f) —(CH₂)_(j)CON(R¹⁰)₂; g) —(CH₂)_(j)OCON(R¹⁰)₂; h) two R² units can be taken together to form a carbonyl unit; i) and mixtures thereof; R⁸, R^(9a), R^(9b), and R¹⁰ are each independently hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, and mixtures thereof; R^(9a) and R^(9b) can be taken together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring comprising from 3 to 7 atoms; two R¹⁰ units can be take together to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring comprising from 3 to 7 atoms; j is an index from 0 to 5, n is an index from 0 to 5; and Z is O, S, NR¹¹, or NOR¹¹;R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁-C₄ alkyl. 